The Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition supports Measure B. It isn’t perfect—we prefer to avoid regressive sales tax funding mechanisms, and we like to see mechanisms for community involvement in oversight, such as were put in place for Measure X after it was passed in 2020.
But Measure B will fund dramatic shortfalls in our county’s safety net programs, shortfalls caused by dramatic cuts in federal funding as a result of the passage of H.R.1 in 2025. Our work at the Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition is faith-rooted advocacy to reduce poverty, and our county safety net programs are essential for that. For details on how federal cuts have impacted the Contra Costa safety, read this post of ours.
Here’s some background on Measure B, followed by faith-rooted specifics on why we support the measure.
Summary of Measure B
Measure B is a countywide initiative placed on the June 2, 2026, ballot by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. The measure is designed to address anticipated budget shortfalls resulting from recent federal funding reductions to social safety net programs.
If approved by a simple majority of voters, Measure B would implement a 0.625% (five-eighths of a cent) temporary sales tax for a period of five years. The revenue generated is intended to sustain essential county services that face increased demand or decreased federal support.
Official Ballot Text
Following a judicial review in April 2026 to ensure neutral language, the updated ballot question reads:
“To help Contra Costa County address cuts in federal funding, support local services such as health care, supplemental food assistance, and other general county services; shall Contra Costa County adopt a five-eighths of one cent (0.625%) temporary general sales tax for 5 years, providing an estimated $150,000,000 annually, with required annual audits?”
Key Points
- Healthcare Sustainability: Provides funding for the Contra Costa Health system, including the regional hospital and community clinics, to maintain service levels despite cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal) eligibility and reimbursements.
- Social Safety Net: Supports programs like supplemental food assistance (CalFresh) and other human services for vulnerable populations.
- Revenue Generation: The tax is projected to generate approximately $150 million per year to backfill the county’s general fund. This only partially offsets the pending loss of federal funding.
- Fiscal Oversight: To reduce the approval vote requirement to 50%, this is a general fund tax, which means the funds are not restricted. The primary oversight body will be the Board of Supervisors.
- Labor Support: Primary support comes from multiple unions and the Contra Costa Central Labor Council. They are very concerned about the impact on our county economy that could flow from cuts in healthcare and other spending if Measure B is not passed.
The faith-rooted case for Measure B
The support for Measure B across various faith traditions is rooted in the shared moral imperative to protect the vulnerable and ensure that healing is accessible to all, regardless of economic status. When federal cuts threaten the healthcare of the poor, many religious perspectives view the community’s intervention as a spiritual and ethical necessity.
- The Mandate of Compassion (Christianity) In the Christian tradition, the “Preferential Option for the Poor” suggests that the health of a society is measured by how it treats its most marginalized members. Drawing from the Parable of the Good Samaritan, faith traditions suggest that when the federal government retreats from providing care, the local community must act as the neighbor who provides the “oil and wine” for healing. Protecting healthcare is seen as a direct extension of the commandment to love one’s neighbor.
- Tzedakah and Justice (Judaism) In Jewish law (Halakha), the concept of Tzedakah is not merely “charity” but “justice.” Providing healthcare (Refuah) is considered a communal obligation. The Sage Maimonides listed “doctors and healthcare” as the most vital services a city must provide for its residents to be considered a worthy place to live. From this view, voting for Measure B is an act of restoring justice to a system where poverty should not be a barrier to life.
- Zakat and Social Responsibility (Islam) The Islamic principle of Zakat (obligatory almsgiving) and the broader concept of Sadaqah emphasize the redistribution of wealth to ensure the basic needs of the poor are met. Protecting the Nafs (life/soul) is one of the primary goals of Sharia. When healthcare cuts threaten the lives of those in poverty, communal support through a measure like this is viewed as a way to uphold the sanctity of life and social equilibrium.
- Dharma and Seva (Eastern Traditions) In Hindu and Sikh traditions, Seva (selfless service) is a path to spiritual growth. Supporting public healthcare is seen as a form of collective Dharma (righteous duty). Because poverty often stems from cycles of ill health, providing medical resources is a way to alleviate suffering (Dukkha) and uphold the dignity of every sentient being.
The Intersection of Health and Poverty
From a multi-faith perspective, healthcare is not a luxury but as a prerequisite for a dignified life. Faith traditions support county safety net programs due to several key intersections:
| Faith Perspective | Core Value | Application to Measure B |
| Common Good | Solidarity | Ensuring that federal budget shifts do not leave the poor to suffer alone. |
| Dignity | Image of the Divine | Recognizing that every person, regardless of income, deserves quality medical care. |
| Stewardship | Responsibility | Using local resources to bridge the gap and maintain the “safety net” for the “least of these.” |
By framing Measure B as a moral response to a fiscal crisis, these traditions argue that the community has a collective responsibility to prevent poverty from becoming a death sentence.
For the Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition, healthcare and food security are critical dimensions of our work to reduce poverty, and both are rooted in the moral framework arising from virtually all faith traditions. We therefore support mechanisms like Measure B, which ensure that the social safety net is maintained here in Contra Costa County.
