San Mateo County leaders calling for more public transportation funding

Leaders in San Mateo County are advocating for increased public transportation funding, emphasizing the urgency during a press conference held on Monday. They are pushing for the county to opt into Senate Bill 63, which aims to create a Transportation Revenue Measure District. This district would enable the proposal of a new retail transaction and use tax to support public transit services. Currently, the bill includes Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties, while allowing San Mateo and Santa Clara counties to join. Supporters, including supervisors Noelia Corzo and David Canepa, stress the necessity of the measure to address the financial challenges faced by agencies like BART and Caltrain.

Contrarily, opponents like the California Taxpayers Association claim that the tax would duplicate existing tax authorities and negatively impact low-income residents. Corzo advocates for a half-cent tax option, stating that any excess funding could benefit local transportation efforts. San Mateo County must decide by the first week of August, with voters in all involved counties potentially voting on the tax in November 2026.