City of San Mateo Measure H: Transactions and Use Tax Measure
My vote power
High
Election date
November 3, 2026
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: High · 77 out of 100
This district is a small slice of its state, so each vote here carries much more weight than a vote in a statewide race. About 103,105 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 ÷ 103,105) ÷ ln(50,000) = 77.46, measured against a statewide vote in CA (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
High representation + a direct vote on the policy → My vote power: High.
What does this measure do?
Measure H raises San Mateo's city sales tax from 0.25% to 0.50%, or 25 more cents per $100 spent, until voters end it. Shoppers pay about $7 million more a year that the city can spend on any service, like police, streets, and parks; groceries and medicine are not taxed.
Read the official ballot measure (PDF)
Proposed by: San Mateo City Council (Resolution 84 (2026))
The city's elected council. It asked voters to add a quarter-cent sales tax with no end date. A new local tax needs voter approval in California; this one needs a simple majority.
Source: smcacre.gov
A YES vote means
The city sales tax rises by 0.25%, bringing in about $7 million a year for general city services, with a yearly audit and a five-member public oversight committee.
A NO vote means
The city sales tax stays at 0.25%, and the city does not get the extra $7 million a year.
Source: smcacre.gov
Source: smcacre.gov
Last updated September 26, 2026.