San Diego County Sales Tax Hike for Pollution, Social Services Nears November Ballot After Signature Submission

SAN DIEGO — A coalition of labor unions, healthcare workers, and community advocates on Monday submitted more than 151,000 signatures to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the San Diego County November ballot. The measure, titled the San Diego County Health and Safety Act, aims to generate over $360 million annually to address the decades-long Tijuana River pollution crisis and bolster underfunded social services. The signatures were delivered in boxes to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters on May 4, marking the culmination of a five-month collection effort. The number of signatures submitted far exceeds the 102,923 valid signatures from registered county voters required to qualify the citizen-led initiative for the ballot. If passed by voters, the measure would increase the countywide sales tax rate by 0.5%, from 7.75% to 8.25%. Proponents estimate this would generate approximately $367 million in its first year. The funds would be allocated to three specific areas: 60% to county social services, 22.5% to mitigate the Tijuana River sewage crisis, and 17.5% to public safety agencies. “This effort is already a success story of community action,” said John Clark, vice president of the firefighters union Cal Fire Local 2881, at the submission event. “This measure is about what it delivers: real, tangible improvements to people’s lives.” The largest portion of the revenue is designated for social programs, including protecting access to affordable healthcare, preventing cuts at local hospitals, expanding childcare and nutrition support for families, and maintaining staffing for food assistance programs like CalFresh. The most prominent issue highlighted by the campaign has been the environmental and public health disaster in the Tijuana River Valley. For years, raw sewage, industrial waste, and trash have flowed across the border, contaminating waterways, closing beaches, and creating airborne toxins. A November 2024 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the county found that nearly two-thirds of households in the South Bay area reported physical health symptoms linked to the contamination. “For years, families across South County have been living with the reality of sewage from the Tijuana River flowing through our communities,” said Waylon Matson, a community partner with the Tijuana River Coalition. “That means contaminated water, polluted air, and real, daily public health impacts.” Supporters argue the measure is a necessary local solution after decades of what they describe as insufficient action from state and federal authorities. The initiative directs roughly $81 million annually toward the crisis, with at least 20% of that funding earmarked for infrastructure projects designed to stop cross-border sewage flows. The remaining funds, approximately $63 million per year, would go toward public safety, including strengthening 911 response, wildfire prevention, and providing additional resources for the sheriff’s department and fire protection districts. However, the proposed tax hike faces organized opposition. Carl DeMaio, chairman of the conservative political organization Reform California, has pledged a $1 million campaign to defeat the measure. “San Diegans are already getting crushed by a cost-of-living crisis — and the last thing we need is a costly and unfair sales tax hike that will only add to their financial struggles,” DeMaio said in a statement. He vowed to hold county politicians accountable for what he termed “wasteful spending.” Because the measure is a citizen-sponsored initiative, it requires only a simple majority of voters to pass, rather than the two-thirds supermajority often required for tax measures proposed by government bodies. While the goals of funding public health and safety initiatives are commendable, any sales tax increase introduces immediate operational and financial hurdles for small and mid-sized businesses. An increase, even one of a half-cent, directly impacts pricing strategies and can alter consumer spending habits, potentially making businesses in San Diego County less competitive than those in neighboring jurisdictions with lower tax rates. In our experience, the primary challenge isn't just absorbing the cost but managing the increased administrative burden. Businesses must update their point-of-sale systems, ensure accurate collection, and remit the correct amounts to different tax authorities. This patchwork of local tax rates creates complexity that can lead to costly errors if not handled meticulously. This is precisely the kind of challenge where professional guidance on tax preparation and compliance becomes essential. To ensure your business navigates these changes smoothly, contact C&S Finance Group LLC at csfinancegroup.com for expert support. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters now has 30 business days to verify the signatures. Given the significant surplus of signatures collected, proponents are confident the measure will qualify. If certified, the San Diego County Health and Safety Act will be placed on the November ballot, setting the stage for a contentious campaign over the county’s fiscal future.