The case for Measure B, the Countywide 0.625% sales tax hike, is vanishing before our eyes.

County officials and Measure B supporters initially pointed to “$300 million in ongoing annual losses” from federal Medicaid cutbacks. But that claim did not hold.

As documented on our Stop Measure B website, a projected cumulative loss of federal revenues over four fiscal years was miscast as an annual figure. And Contra Costa Health staff were obliged to reduce the loss estimate further due to Congress’ decision to postpone cuts to so-called Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) until 2028. Meeting minutes now show “cumulative revenue losses of an estimated $239 million by 2029.”

That is not a minor tweak. It is the difference between an alleged emergency loss of $300 million every year and a much smaller total spread over several years (and addressable with the County’s existing reserves).

Meanwhile, Measure B would still lock taxpayers into a countywide sales tax increase raising rates to 10% or more in most cities.

And even that reduced number of $239 million estimate is almost certainly too high.

Our Stop Measure B analysis shows that Congress has delayed DSH cuts repeatedly over more than a decade. If Washington delays them again, the supposed revenue hole shrinks further.

Yet Measure B would begin taxes would start accruing in October 2026, before most of the major claimed fiscal impacts would even arrive. Tax first, justify later is not sound public policy.

This matters because sales taxes are among the worst ways to fund government. They hit working families, retirees, and small businesses hardest. They make everyday purchases more expensive. And once politicians discover that voters will tolerate a “temporary” tax, the next one is never far behind.

What makes Measure B especially hard to defend is that Contra Costa County is not a government on the brink of collapse. Before county officials come back to the public for more, they should show taxpayers that they have exhausted current resources, set real priorities, and given voters an honest picture of the problem.

Instead, voters were first presented with an inflated talking point, then a reduced number, and now a push for the same tax anyway. That is not fiscal necessity. It is opportunism.

Contra Costa voters should ask a basic question: if the justification for the tax keeps shrinking, why does the tax itself stay the same?

The answer is obvious. Measure B is not about a narrowly tailored response to a demonstrated need. It is about taking more from taxpayers while the sales pitch still has political momentum.

Vote No on Measure B.

Upcoming CoCoTax Events

We also hope you will join us at our next events all at 11:45am at the Denny’s in Concord:

Friday, April 24 — Contra Costa County Chief Administrative Officer Monica Niño. Monica will update us on the County’s 2026-2027 budget.
Register here: https://cocotax.org/events/#!event/2026/4/25/cocotax-lunch-april-24-county-budget-overview-with-county-administrator-monica-nino

Friday, May 22 — Contra Costa Assessor Gus Kramer. Gus looks back on 32 years as the Assessor as he finishes his time in the office at the end of 2026.
Register here: https://cocotax.org/events/#!event/2026/5/23/cocotax-lunch-may-22-county-assessor-gus-kramer-looks-back-at-his-time-in-office

Save the date - Friday, June 26 - Former State Senator Steve Glazer. See his latest opinion piece on BART here: Glazer: BART must make hard choices now to earn voter trust

Stay Connected

• Website: https://www.cocotax.org

• Newsletter Archive: https://cocotax.org/archive/

• Say No to Measure A: https://saynotomeasurea.com

• Stop Measure B: https://stopmeasureb.com