Santa Clara County officials are preparing to ask voters for higher taxes to protect their poorest public hospital patients from devastating federal revenue cuts.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to hold a special meeting around Aug. 7 to consider putting a five-eighths cent sales tax increase proposal before voters, according to county officials who requested anonymity to speak freely. The county’s sales tax rate is 9.125%.
County sources said they’re aiming to meet the Aug. 8 deadline to get the ballot question consolidated with the Nov. 4 special election to replace former Assessor Larry Stone, who stepped down in July. Sources confirmed Valley Health Foundation, the private nonprofit set up to raise money and lobby for the county health system, has started fundraising for the ballot campaign as the county faces a short runway to November. Sources say the foundation has received at least $1 million in pledges in just the last few days for a forthcoming campaign committee…