Local Politics
Bay Area Voters Decide on Transit Tax Measure Nov. 3
Voters in five Bay Area counties will decide on a regional sales tax measure on November 3 to fund public transit agencies facing severe financial deficits. The measure proposes a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties, plus a one-cent tax in San Francisco, starting in April 2027. If the measure fails, BART has announced that ten low-ridership stations could close as early as January 2027, and Muni may cut up to 20 bus routes. The proposed tax would raise an estimated $980 million annually for 14 years to support agencies including BART, Caltrain, and AC Transit.