L.A. County Hall of Administration (Photo – lacounty.gov)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to place a temporary half‑percent sales tax measure on the June 2026 primary ballot, setting up a major fiscal debate over how the county should respond to steep federal healthcare funding cuts.
By News Desk
The motion, introduced by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Board Chair Hilda L. Solis, passed with only one dissenting vote. Supporters, including healthcare leaders, labor organizations, community advocates, and residents, argue the measure is necessary to help close a projected $2.4 billion shortfall caused by Medicaid reductions tied to the Trump administration’s H.R.1.
County officials warn that the cuts, described by experts as the largest in Medicaid’s history, threaten access to care for millions of Californians. In Los Angeles County, one in three residents relies on Medi‑Cal, making the region particularly vulnerable to federal retrenchment.
If approved by voters, the tax would run through 2031 and exempt essential items such as groceries, medicine, and purchases made with SNAP and WIC. Revenue would support the county’s strained healthcare safety net, including emergency care, behavioral health services, and other essential programs.
Barger Casts Lone Dissenting Vote
Supervisor Kathryn Barger was the sole vote against placing the measure on the ballot. In a statement following the decision, she said she could not support what she called an effort to “backfill federal funding cuts on the backs of County taxpayers.”
While acknowledging the county’s healthcare system is under significant strain, Barger said the Board should pursue stronger commitments from state lawmakers rather than rely on a general tax measure that does not legally guarantee spending on healthcare.
“Making things more expensive, especially for those who can least afford it, without real guarantees or accountability is not the answer,” she said, adding that general tax revenue can be redirected to other county priorities without voter oversight.
Barger said she would only support a special tax with a clearly defined purpose, enforceable accountability measures, and full transparency.
Next Steps
With the Board’s approval, the measure will now appear on the June 2026 ballot, where voters will decide whether to adopt the temporary tax. The outcome could shape the future of Los Angeles County’s healthcare safety net at a time of mounting financial pressure and growing demand for services.
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