SAN JOSE – The Valley Transportation Authority Board of Directors voted late Thursday to join a regional sales tax measure aimed at propping up struggling public transit agencies.
Senate Bill 63, if it becomes law, would ask voters in certain Bay Area counties to decide in 2026 whether to hike sales taxes by half a cent next year. In Santa Clara County, the measure is expected to generate more than $264 million annually for the VTA over 14 years.
The funds would cover VTA’s deficit and Caltrain obligation, as well as support a program of projects, including the Visionary Network plan to restore and enhance transit service.
“I think this is something that can take a very challenging and problematic situation and turn it into a real opportunity for our residents to benefit from not losing transit, but instead having better transit,” VTA Ex-Officio Member Pat Burt said Thursday.
The bill still needs to be passed by the state Assembly and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
From there, lawmakers could put the proposal directly on the ballot, but with the catch of requiring a two-thirds majority to pass. If citizens collect enough signatures to place it in front of voters through the initiative process, it would require only a simple majority.
Board Member David Cohen also threw his support behind the measure but voiced concerns about what he called “tax fatigue.”
“I’m certainly concerned that this county joining might bring down the entire region’s measure by actually not getting the 50 percent here when the rest of the region wants it,” he said.
“I am optimistic that our county voters continue to prioritize transit and will support it, but I don’t necessarily have the evidence today that that’s going to be true next year.”
The board previously opposed joining the measure. In December, members sent a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission saying they would pursue a parallel tax measure if there is voter support.
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