To: Board of Supervisors
From: Kristin Connelly, Clerk-Recorder
Report Title: Call a Special Election for the Regional Transit Measure and Consolidate with the November 3, 2026, General Election
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
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RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. 2026-______ calling a special election on the “Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative,” a qualified voter initiative imposing a retail transactions and use tax and ordering consolidation of the special election with the November 3, 2026, Statewide General Election.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund to be partially reimbursed by the Public Transit Revenue Measure District. Government Code section 67740, subdivision (i), requires the Public Transit Revenue Measure District to reimburse the County, from funds made available pursuant to Government Code section 67750, only for incremental costs incurred by the County elections official in submitting the measure to the voters. The County may therefore be required to advance election costs, and the availability and timing of reimbursement may depend upon voter approval of the Measure and the resulting availability of measure proceeds. The Elections Division estimates the County’s incremental costs to be $1,600,000.
BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill 63, the Connect Bay Area Act, was signed into law on October 13, 2025, creating the Public Transit Revenue Measure District (“District”) under Title 7.85 of the Government Code, commencing with Government Code Section 67700. The District's jurisdiction includes Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties as well as the City and County of San Francisco, and provides that the District shall be governed by the same board that governs the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (“MTC”).
Senate Bill 63 authorized a retail transactions and use tax applicable to the entire District to be imposed by the Board of the District or by a qualified voter initiative, subject to voter approval...
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