Concord Measure V Narrowly Passes, Unofficial Results Show

Concord CA

04 November, 2020

5:46 PM

Description

CONCORD, CA — Measure V appears to have been approved by a narrow margin, with 51.08 percent "yes" votes and 48.92 percent "no" votes, according to unofficial election night results from the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters Office. Measure V will increase the city of Concord's existing local sales tax from one-half to 1 percent. It is an extension of Measure Q, a half-cent sales tax first approved by Concord voters in 2010, at a time the Great Recession had decimated city budgets, including Concord's. Local voters extended Measure Q, at a half-cent, in 2014. Concord's overall sales and use tax rate will rise from 8.75 percent to 9.25 percent. The financial situation in Concord, as in many other cities, has taken a big hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Concord City Council earlier this year cut the 2020-2021 general fund budget by $10.5 million from original estimates, cut 36 jobs and cut managers' pay. ALSO SEE: Election Results: Contra Costa County Tax Hike Measure XConcord Election Results 2020: Measure V, City Council, MoreBay City News Service and Patch editor Maggie Fusek contributed to this report.