LA County Voters Should Reject Sales Tax Hike, Investigate IHSS Spending First

Concerns raised over union influence, fraud in in-home care program as county seeks new revenue

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Los Angeles County voters will decide in June whether to approve a half-cent sales tax increase to address healthcare budget gaps. However, experts argue the county should first investigate the explosive growth of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which is driven by union influence and potential fraud, before asking residents to pay more.

Why it matters

The IHSS program, which pays caregivers to assist low-income seniors and disabled individuals, has seen costs skyrocket in recent years. Critics argue the county has failed to properly address fraud concerns and the role of the powerful SEIU union in driving up wages and membership dues, which could be fueling the program's ballooning budget.

The details

IHSS costs are expected to reach $33.4 billion statewide in 2026-27, more than doubling over the last decade. Much of this growth is attributed to SEIU Local 2015, which represents over 500,000 IHSS caregivers and has steadily pushed for higher wages. The union also collects dues of up to 3% of caregiver wages, amounting to tens of millions in revenue. Meanwhile, the county has reportedly declined to seriously address potential fraud in the program, with some experts estimating the true fraud rate is much higher than the official figure.

  • The sales tax measure will be on the June 2026 ballot.
  • IHSS costs are projected to reach $33.4 billion statewide in 2026-27.

The players

SEIU Local 2015

The union that represents over 500,000 IHSS caregivers in California and has been effective at pushing up wages, which also increases the union's dues revenue.

Haywood Talcove

A nationally recognized fraud expert and CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government, who has raised concerns about potential organized fraud networks operating within the IHSS program.

Dr. Mehmet Oz

The CMS Administrator who has said federal investigators have found billions of dollars in improper payments across California's Medi-Cal system, including in home care.

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What’s next

The sales tax measure will be on the June 2026 ballot, giving voters the opportunity to reject it and demand the county address IHSS spending and fraud concerns first.

The takeaway

Before asking residents to pay more, LA County should thoroughly investigate the IHSS program's ballooning costs, which appear to be driven by union influence and potential fraud, rather than simply raising taxes to cover the budget shortfall.