CoCoTax Opposes Concord Measure O

In July, the Concord City Council voted unanimously to place a business license tax overhaul on the November 3 ballot. Measure O would replace the graduated gross receipts schedule Concord adopted in 1978 with a flat rate of $1.00 per $1,000 in gross receipts, and city staff project it will raise about $3 million annually in additional General Fund revenue. The city calls the measure a "simplification," but a change that collects $3 million more each year from Concord businesses is a tax increase, and those costs will reach residents through higher prices at local shops, restaurants, and service providers.

CoCoTax filed the official argument against Measure O, which will appear in the voter information guide. Executive Committee Member Cindy Johnson led this work, writing the argument and seeing it through the submission process. We are grateful to Cindy for taking on a demanding task on a tight deadline and giving Concord voters a clear case for voting no.

Residents who do not own businesses will still pay for Measure O, because businesses pass new costs along through higher prices, making a tax on business a tax on everyone who spends money in Concord. The revenue goes to the General Fund rather than an account restricted to roads or emergency response, so future City Councils can spend it however they choose, regardless of how the measure is advertised today. Concord voters already face a regional transit sales tax and other tax and bond measures on the same ballot; another tax adds to the cumulative burden on households and businesses at a time when affordability is already strained. Because the levy is based on gross receipts and ignores costs, new companies that are losing money will still owe it. Rewriting a tax structure that has stood for more than 40 years deserves more scrutiny than a single election cycle allows, and the measure lacks independent, binding oversight or a sunset date.

We are asking Concord voters to vote no on Measure O and to ask the City to return with a plan that includes a hard spending lock, a sunset date, and full transparency before asking residents to pay more.

If you know Concord voters or business owners, please forward this newsletter to them.

Our California Dream: Garry's List and CoCoTax in San Ramon

CoCoTax is joining Garry's List to host Our California Dream, an afternoon conversation in San Ramon on Sunday, October 4, from 3:30 to 5:00 PM at China Lounge Restaurant, 2416 San Ramon Valley Blvd #140. Drinks and snacks are free, but registration is required and space is limited. Register on Luma.

From the organizers:

As our country becomes increasingly divided and extreme voices dominate social media, there seems to be less and less space for moderate voices, even though they represent a large part of our communities. Let's come together for an open and respectful conversation about how we can bring the California Dream back.

California has always offered a simple promise: if you work hard, you can build a good life here and create something lasting for your family. That promise brought many of us to this state, and today, it is being tested.

Join your neighbors for a welcoming afternoon of honest conversation about the issues shaping our future: public safety, education, and the economic prosperity that allows families to thrive. Meet others who care deeply about California's future and learn how you can get involved.

Founded by Garry Tan, Garry's List is a growing community of Californians, including founders, parents, and neighbors, working to move our state beyond ideological extremes and toward safer communities, strong schools, and greater prosperity. Tan is President and CEO of the startup accelerator Y Combinator and a co-founder of the venture capital firm Initialized Capital. He previously co-founded Posterous and Posthaven and was an early employee at Palantir Technologies. He is also active in San Francisco civic and political affairs through public commentary, community engagement, and political contributions.

CoCoTax, the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, has advocated for good government at an affordable cost in Contra Costa County since 1937. The organization takes positions on many state and local ballot measures and submits ballot arguments on selected local measures.

Come meet your neighbors, exchange ideas, and discuss how we can work together to preserve opportunity, strengthen our communities, and make the California Dream possible for generations to come.

Upcoming Events

CoCoTax Lunch, September 25: Proposition 43 with Scott Kaufman, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Friday, September 25, 2026 | 11:45am – 1:15pm PDT | Denny's, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord

Our California Dream, with Garry's List
Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 3:30pm – 5:00pm PDT | China Lounge Restaurant, 2416 San Ramon Valley Blvd #140, San Ramon

CoCoTax Lunch, October 23: November Tax Ballot Measures with Rob Gutierrez, CalTax
Friday, October 23, 2026 | 11:45am – 1:15pm PDT | Denny's, 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord