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| Measure C (Contra Costa County) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Measure C |
| Location | Contra Costa County, California |
| Type | County ballot measure |
| Date | November 6, 2018 |
| Result | Passed |
| Yes votes | 187,342 |
| No votes | 110,574 |
Measure C (Contra Costa County) was a countywide ballot measure enacted by voters in Contra Costa County, California, to authorize a dedicated parcel tax for fire protection, emergency medical services, and vegetation management. Placed on the November 6, 2018 general election ballot, the measure proposed a four-year special parcel tax and related authorizations for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and county agencies to levy assessments. Supporters cited wildfire prevention and emergency response enhancements while opponents raised concerns about taxation, fiscal accountability, and impacts on property owners.
Measure C emerged amid post-2017 wildfire policy debates in California and local responses to the 2017 Northern California wildfires and the 2015 Butte Fire. County supervisors in Contra Costa County, California and officials in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District coordinated with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire chiefs to craft a ballot proposal. Discussions involved representatives from the California State Association of Counties, the League of California Cities, and local municipal leaders including the Concord, California city council and the Richmond, California mayor’s office. After hearings before the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and budgetary reviews tied to the Alameda County and Solano County fire service models, the board ordered placement of Measure C on the November 6, 2018 ballot pursuant to the California Elections Code.
Measure C authorized a parcel tax levy to fund increased staffing, apparatus, training, vegetation management, fuel reduction, and emergency medical services across the county and within participating districts. It specified a per-parcel rate schedule and a renewal period of four years, with revenue to be collected by the Contra Costa County Tax Collector and allocated by the County Auditor-Controller to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and participating local agencies. The measure included oversight provisions involving an independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual audits performed by certified public accountants, with reporting to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the State Controller of California. Implementation required coordination with the California Public Employees' Retirement System for firefighter staffing impacts and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act for vegetation management projects.
The campaign in support of Measure C featured endorsements from elected officials including members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, mayors from Walnut Creek, California and Pittsburg, California, and statewide figures associated with the California Fire Chiefs Association and the California Professional Firefighters. Supporting coalitions highlighted partnerships with the American Red Cross and local health providers such as John Muir Health and Kaiser Permanente in outreach. Opponents included taxpayer advocacy groups and some community organizations citing fiscal concerns, invoking lists from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and arguments similar to litigation in Santa Clara County and Sacramento County over special taxes. Both sides used mailers, digital advertising, and endorsements publicized via local newspapers including the Contra Costa Times and broadcasts on KQED and KPIX-TV.
Measure C passed with a majority of votes on November 6, 2018. Official tallies reported roughly 63% in favor and 37% opposed, with results certified by the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters. Post-election analysis by local political observers compared the measure’s margin to outcomes for contemporaneous measures such as Proposition 6 (2018) and county ballot measures in Alameda County, noting turnout influences from the 2018 United States midterm elections and localized mobilization by unions affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters. Geographic voting patterns showed stronger support in suburban communities like Clayton, California and Lafayette, California and more mixed results in industrialized areas such as Pittsburg, California. Fiscal impact projections were incorporated into subsequent county budget adjustments and reports filed with the California State Controller's Office.
Following passage, Measure C faced legal scrutiny regarding tax classification, ballot language, and procedural compliance with state law. Lawsuits were filed by interested taxpayers and advocacy groups invoking provisions of the California Constitution and the California Elections Code, challenging whether the measure constituted a special tax requiring two-thirds approval or qualified as a general tax. Litigation referenced precedent from cases involving Californians for Responsible Growth and decisions from the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal. Courts reviewed claims about Proposition-related notice requirements and procedural steps taken by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Some challenges were dismissed or settled, and appellate opinions shaped how the county administered the parcel tax and oversight mechanisms.
After implementation, revenues from Measure C funded additional fire stations, staffing increases, defensible space inspections, and vegetation management projects coordinated with state agencies such as Cal Fire. Independent audit reports were submitted to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and publicized in local outlets including the East Bay Times. The measure influenced later ballot discussions in the region, informing proposals in neighboring jurisdictions like Alameda County and prompting policy dialogues with the Governor of California's office on wildfire mitigation funding. Continued monitoring involved collaborations with academic partners such as University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University for wildfire risk assessments and with regional planning agencies including the Association of Bay Area Governments.
Category:California ballot measures Category:Contra Costa County, California