Santa Clara County Sales tax Faces Skepticism From Law Enforcement, Prosecutors
SAN JOSE, CA – A proposed sales tax intended to shore up Santa Clara County’s financially strained hospital system is meeting resistance from within the county’s own law enforcement and prosecutorial ranks, raising questions about its viability ahead of a March ballot vote. Concerns center on the allocation of funds and a perceived lack of clarity regarding how the projected $4.4 billion over five years would be spent, according to sources familiar with internal discussions.
The half-cent sales tax aims to prevent cuts to vital services at Valley Medical Center and other county hospitals, which currently treat a large proportion of patients covered by Medi-Cal-roughly half-along with those on Medicare and other insurance plans. Without the tax revenue, county officials warn of potentially devastating financial losses over the next five years. However, some prosecutors and law enforcement officials believe the measure’s current form doesn’t adequately prioritize public safety needs and lacks sufficient oversight mechanisms.
The debate comes as valley Medical Center continues to serve as a critical safety net for the region’s moast vulnerable patients. At a recent rally supporting the tax measure, Ashley Mompoint-Michel shared the story of her son, Bastian Michel, who suffered severe injuries after being struck by a car last year.Initially wanting to transfer him to Stanford Hospital, Mompoint-Michel learned Valley Medical Center was a Level 1 trauma center equipped to handle his complex injuries. “Thanks to this hospital and all the resources available to it – our son is now an 8-year-old,” she stated.The proposed tax is intended to maintain those resources,but critics argue the current plan doesn’t guarantee funding for programs that directly address crime and its consequences.The outcome of the March vote will determine whether the county can avert critically important financial challenges for its hospital system and maintain its capacity to provide critical care.
Contact Brandon Pho at [email protected] or @brandonphooo on X.
