Los Angeles County supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the June ballot, a move intended to shore up the county’s struggling public health system. The decision came despite vocal opposition from numerous cities within the county, and a lone dissenting vote from Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
The proposed tax aims to generate approximately $1 billion annually to offset dwindling federal funding for health services, according to supervisors who support the measure. The county is already anticipating significant cuts, with officials warning of the potential closure of clinics and hospitals. The Department of Public Health announced Friday it would shutter seven clinics, characterizing this as an initial step in a series of reductions expected over the next three years, totaling more than $2 billion in lost funding.
Barger voiced strong concerns about the timing and potential impact of the tax, stating she had heard “absolutely not” from every city within her district. “People are fatigued,” Barger said, expressing skepticism about the measure’s chances of passage.
Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Hilda Solis, who jointly introduced the measure, argued that the tax is the only viable solution to address the looming financial crisis. “There really are no other viable and timely options,” Mitchell stated during Tuesday’s board meeting.
Still, the proposal has sparked a backlash from city officials, who cite concerns about the cumulative impact of sales taxes on consumers and a lack of trust in the county’s ability to effectively allocate the funds. Several cities submitted letters of opposition, with Norwalk calling the tax “rushed,” Palmdale citing “significant flaws,” and Glendale deeming it “deeply troubling and fundamentally unfair.”
The potential for increased sales tax rates, particularly in cities like Palmdale and Lancaster, has raised concerns about affordability for residents in some of the county’s poorest communities. Opponents also point to the county’s past track record with ballot measures, specifically citing Measure B in 2002, a parcel tax intended to fund the trauma center network, and an audit conducted over a decade later that found the county could not demonstrate proper use of the funds. Similarly, questions remain regarding the allocation of funds from Measure H, the 2017 homelessness services tax, which voters made permanent in 2024.
The county has opted to present the tax as a general tax, meaning the funds would be deposited into the general fund and could be used for any county services. This approach requires only a majority vote for approval, whereas a special tax earmarked for specific purposes would require a two-thirds majority. An oversight group is proposed to monitor the use of the funds, but some remain skeptical. Marcel Rodarte, head of the California Contract Cities Assn., noted the county will be expanding the number of supervisors from five to nine before the tax expires, raising concerns about potential reallocation of funds.
The debate over the sales tax increase comes amid other political developments within Los Angeles County. L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman entered the mayoral race Tuesday, challenging incumbent Karen Bass, and receiving criticism from the head of the AFL-CIO, Yvonne Wheeler, who labeled her an “opportunist.” the Los Angeles Police Department has issued a new directive requiring officers to activate body cameras during federal immigration enforcement operations.
A federal judge also ruled this week that the city of Los Angeles violated the constitutional rights of homeless individuals by seizing and destroying their property during encampment cleanups, potentially leading to an injunction requiring the city to allow individuals to contest such seizures. Voters will also be asked to approve a hike in the hotel tax in the June election.
