By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara County is under state investigation over whether it used taxpayer money to help pass Measure A.  

The countywide sales tax increase was passed in November. It’s expected to raise about $330 million a year for five years.

The Fair Political Practices Commission, California’s campaign finance watchdog, is reviewing complaints that county-funded mailers crossed the line from public information into political campaigning.

The mailers went out under official county letterhead before voters approved Measure A last November. They warned that federal funding cuts could threaten public health services, including the county hospital system.

Two anti-tax groups filed the complaints. They argue the county used public money to pressure voters into supporting the tax.

County officials deny wrongdoing. They say the mailers went to all residents, not just voters. They also say the county had a duty to explain serious budget threats tied to federal legislation known as H.R. 1.

But Measure A was approved as a general tax.

The money is not legally restricted to health care. It can be used for any county purposes.

That was also a key argument opposing Measure A, which warned that “not a dime” was legally dedicated to health care and that the money could be spent on anything. 

County leaders have said they intend to spend the money on the public health system. But critics say voters may have been led to believe they were approving a dedicated health care tax.

The Board of Supervisors has since created a Measure A Citizens’ Oversight Committee to review how the money is spent.

The FPPC has not yet determined that any laws were broken.