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4d ago

L.A. County Puts Half-Cent Healthcare Sales Tax on June Ballot

The five-year measure is projected to raise about $1 billion annually to offset health funding losses tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill.

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Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell advocates for a half cent sales tax measure with Sup. Hilda Solis, left, to fund the federal Medicaid cuts that will affect Los Angeles County residents during a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Overview

  • Supervisors voted 4–1 to place the measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot, with Kathryn Barger dissenting over general-fund flexibility and urging state help.
  • The half-cent increase would raise the baseline sales tax to 10.25% for five years, sunsetting Oct. 1, 2031, with rates reaching up to 11.75% in some cities.
  • County officials cite roughly $2.4 billion in three-year health funding losses linked to federal policy changes and steep Medi-Cal enrollment declines.
  • The plan creates a nine-member oversight committee with annual audits and outlines allocations for county health services, safety-net providers, school health, and a 5% set-aside for Planned Parenthood.
  • Backers warn the revenue would avert clinic and hospital closures and layoffs, while critics label the tax regressive and predict lost sales to other counties.