Skip to content

San Diego County Measure B: Protect San Diego County's Health and Safety Act Half-Cent Sales Tax

San Diego County, California

My vote power

High

Election date

November 3, 2026

San Diego County Measure B: Protect San Diego County's Health and Safety Act Half-Cent Sales Tax is a ballot measure in San Diego County, California on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Adds a half-cent county sales tax, raising the rate from 7.75% to 8.25%, for health care, child care, and food aid (60%), Tijuana River sewage cleanup (22.5%), and public safety and wildfire response (17.5%). Shoppers pay about 50 cents more per $100 spent, with no end date unless voters repeal it.

How do we calculate my vote power?

What determines the vote power rating for ballot measures: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. You have more power in ballot measures because you vote directly on the policy.

Representation: Above average · 61 out of 100

This district is a good deal smaller than its state, so each vote here carries more weight than a vote in a statewide race. About 3,288,774 people live here.

Show the representation math

score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(39,287,377 ÷ 3,288,774) ÷ ln(50,000) = 61.46, measured against a statewide vote in CA (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)

Above average representation + a direct vote on the policy → My vote power: High.

What does this measure do?

Adds a half-cent county sales tax, raising the rate from 7.75% to 8.25%, for health care, child care, and food aid (60%), Tijuana River sewage cleanup (22.5%), and public safety and wildfire response (17.5%). Shoppers pay about 50 cents more per $100 spent, with no end date unless voters repeal it.

More about this measure

A YES vote means

Sales tax in San Diego County rises to 8.25%, raising roughly $360 million a year for health, child care, sewage cleanup, and public safety, with audits and a citizen oversight committee.

A NO vote means

The county sales tax stays at 7.75%, and the county funds these programs from its existing budget or not at all.

Sources: timesofsandiego.com · dougporter.substack.com

Source: timesofsandiego.com

Last updated September 24, 2026.