Committee forwards ordinance to put 0.5% transportation sales tax renewal on November ballot

The San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee on June 29 forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors an ordinance to place a 0.5% local transportation sales tax renewal and a new 2022 transportation expenditure plan on the Nov. 8, 2022 ballot.

The committee, chaired by Supervisor Hillary Ronan, voted to send the item to the full board with a positive recommendation in a 2–0 roll call; Vice Chair Asha Safaei was absent. Brent Halifa, the committee clerk, told the panel that items acted on that day were expected to appear on the Board agenda on July 12.

Maria Lombardo, chief deputy at the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, told the committee the ordinance would “not increase the sales tax rate but it would extend the duration and establish a new set of funding priorities.” Lombardo said the measure would fund transit maintenance and enhancements, major transit projects (including the Caltrain downtown extension), streets and freeway safety and repairs, paratransit operations, and transportation demand programs. She presented a conservative revenue forecast of roughly $2.6 billion in 2020 dollars over 30 years and said local sales tax dollars have historically leveraged $4 to $7 in additional funds per sales‑tax dollar.

Supporters at the hearing framed the measure as a jobs and recovery bill. Charlie Lavery, an Operating Engineers trustee and San Francisco Labor Council executive board member, told the committee “San Francisco labor and the building trades are united in support of this measure,” saying it would produce thousands of jobs and support union wages and benefits while advancing equity and climate goals.

Opponents urged caution or rejection. Larry Marceau, who said he authored the opponent argument for Proposition A, called the proposal “financially irresponsible,” arguing the renewal amounts to additional borrowing against future sales tax receipts and that past borrowing already devotes roughly 25% of sales tax revenue to bond repayment. Caller David Pilpow said distrust of the SFMTA remains high and urged governance reform before new funding, saying, “Bottom line is voters do not trust the MTA.”

Lombardo and Transportation Authority leaders said the plan reflects extensive outreach, including a 26‑member Expenditure Plan Advisory Committee (EPAC) that, she said, unanimously adopted the plan after listening sessions, focus groups and neighborhood meetings. The staff presentation also emphasized that sustaining the local revenue stream would help the city compete for federal discretionary infrastructure funds.

The committee’s action was procedural: members forwarded the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The clerk indicated the item is expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on July 12 for further consideration.

Votes at a glance: Motion to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation — Motion by Chair Hillary Ronan; roll call recorded: Gordon Mar, aye; Hillary Ronan, aye; Asha Safaei, absent. The clerk recorded the motion as passing and the item was forwarded to the Board.