Californians approved 40 local tax increases (and bonds that increase taxes) and rejected 16 in the June 7 elections, according to the tallies finalized this week.
The complete results, including descriptions of the measures and their estimated cost to taxpayers, are posted on the CalTax website.
During the last primary election – held in March 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – voters rejected a majority of local tax increases. However, this year’s election results indicate that voters are more willing to approve tax increases as stay-at-home orders end and workers return to the office.
Noteworthy measures certified this week include:
- San Francisco General Obligation Bond Fails. Measure A, a $400 million general obligation bond to be repaid through a property tax of $100 per $100,000 of assessed value, was rejected by voters. Measure A, which received significant support from San Francisco’s business community, received 65.11 percent support, which is just short of the two-thirds support needed to pass. The tax would have cost taxpayers $30 million annually for 30 years.
- Santa Cruz Sales Tax Increase Fails Majority-Vote Threshold. Santa Cruz’s Measure F, a 0.5 percent sales tax increase “to address fiscal shortfalls,” fell short of the majority vote needed for passage, receiving 49.85 percent support. The measure would have cost taxpayers an estimated $6 million annually.
- San Mateo School Bond Is Rejected. Voters in San Mateo rejected Measure E, a $90 million school bond that would have been repaid through a property tax of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value. The bond needed support from at least 55 percent of the voters, but finished with 53.58 percent.