L.A. County Proposes Sales Tax Hike to Offset Federal Healthcare Cuts

The proposed half-cent sales tax would generate $1 billion annually to support local hospitals and clinics.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Los Angeles County supervisors have voted 4-1 to put a half-cent sales tax increase on the June 2026 ballot. The tax, if approved by voters, would generate an estimated $1 billion per year to offset major funding cuts expected from the federal government's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which could slash over $2 billion from the county's healthcare budget over the next three years.

Why it matters

The proposed sales tax hike is a response to anticipated federal healthcare funding cuts that could force the closure of emergency rooms, slow down public health services like contact tracing and water quality testing, and lead to the loss of tens of thousands of healthcare jobs in L.A. County. Supervisors are seeking to avoid a repeat of the 2007 closure of Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, which had devastating impacts on South L.A. residents.

The details

The sales tax increase would raise the overall sales tax rate in some parts of L.A. County to over 11%. An oversight committee would be created to monitor how the tax revenue is spent, with the largest portion going to care for uninsured residents. However, Supervisor Kathryn Barger cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the county should seek state-level assistance rather than relying on taxpayers and expressing concerns that the funds would go into the general budget rather than being earmarked specifically for healthcare.

  • The Board of Supervisors voted on the ballot measure on February 10, 2026.
  • The proposed sales tax increase would be on the June 2026 ballot for voter approval.

The players

L.A. County Board of Supervisors

The governing body of Los Angeles County that voted 4-1 to put the sales tax increase on the ballot.

Restore Healthcare for Angelenos

A coalition of healthcare workers and advocates that pushed for the sales tax increase to ward off healthcare service cuts and layoffs.

Barbara Ferrer

The head of the L.A. County Department of Public Health who warned of the dire consequences if new funding does not materialize.

Kathryn Barger

The lone supervisor who voted against putting the sales tax increase on the ballot, arguing the county should seek state-level assistance instead.

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What they’re saying

“Millions of people look to us to step up even when the federal government has walked away.”

— Holly Mitchell, Supervisor (latimes.com)

“People died as a result of that. I don't want to go back there.”

— Holly Mitchell, Supervisor (latimes.com)

“We are not, as a whole, credible when it comes to promises made, promises broken.”

— Kathryn Barger, Supervisor (latimes.com)

What’s next

Voters in Los Angeles County will decide whether to approve the proposed half-cent sales tax increase in the June 2026 election.

The takeaway

This ballot measure highlights the difficult choices local governments face in trying to maintain critical public health services in the face of anticipated federal funding cuts. The proposed sales tax increase reflects the county's determination to avoid a repeat of past healthcare service disruptions that had devastating impacts on vulnerable residents.