Californians Reject Local Tax Measures, Cutting Pass Rate on 90 Proposals to 60%

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19

About 90 local tax measures on California ballots were passing at roughly 60% in June, down from a typical 75%, as voters turned down levies in places including Riverside and Contra Costa County.
Housing costs and high gas prices helped drive the shift, with voters increasingly weighing whether they can afford higher taxes even for fire services, health care and other local programs.
Mark Baldassare of the Public Policy Institute of California said the state's long-running preference for higher taxes and more services flipped in 2023 and has widened across parties and regions.
The weaker June showing could complicate bigger tax campaigns in November, including a planned Bay Area measure to help sustain the BART transit system.

Sources

Left40%

Center40%

Right20%

As California voters reject tax hikes, are essential public services now on the chopping block?

Will a November ballot measure permanently alter how California funds its local services?

Did the perceived failures of 'mansion taxes' sour voters on funding future public needs?