A judge yesterday (Aug. 29) allowed a sales tax measure in Santa Clara County to appear on the November ballot, but the county must remove President Trump’s name from the ballot language.
The residents who sued over the tax wanted Trump’s name removed, figuring it would trigger some voters into blindly approving the higher tax without considering other arguments.
Superior Court Judge Carol Overton decided the ballot measure will say “the president.”
The plaintiffs argued that the 5/8ths of a cent tax shouldn’t be considered an emergency measure because there is no emergency, such as an earthquake, fire or terrorist attack.
County supervisors had to unanimously declare an emergency to advance the sales tax outside of a regular election.
But the judge sided with the county on that issue.
Proponents say Measure A will help the county health care system, which has run deficits in the last several years. County Manager James Williams said he’s anticipating budget shortfalls of more than $1 billion from the President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which will tighten eligibility requirements for Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California.
“Trump supporters and defenders of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill fought to remove Trump’s name from the ballot question because they know Santa Clara County voters reject the Trump agenda and strongly support public health,” said Michael Elliott, chair of the pro-tax campaign committee. “The court may have changed the ballot language, but Measure A’s purpose remains the same.”
The plaintiffs are Brian Holtz of the Libertarian Party, Dawn Davis, former Mountain View councilman and mayor John Inks and Christopher Robell.
The tax would last for five years, if it’s approved by more than half of voters on Nov. 4.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is real, and it looks like the County wanted to use it to pass this tax.
There is a facebook group called “No Santa Clara County Sales Tax Hike”. Please join and ask your like-minded friends to join. We can share ideas and organize to stop this sales tax hike in November.
Are there yard signs yet? I’d like to put one in my yard….thx
The plaintiffs should appeal based on the judge’s finding that the county is in the midst of emergency. The only justification for that claim is that the county consistently spends more than it takes in, and runs a surplus as a result. That’s not a reason for declaring an emergency. Appeal this!
The judge made the right call but the plaintiffs didn’t go far enough in editing the ballot language. Contrary to what the county claims, the federal government won’t cut direct subsidies to the county. All the budget bill will do is tighten Medicaid (Medi-Cal) eligibility so that people who were wrongfully enrolled during the pandemic are cut off if they make too much money. The budget bill also cuts off non-citizens. It shouldn’t be a problem for the county to deal with these common-sense changes.