League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County Supports Measure ER

The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County supports Measure ER after review of the measure and the League’s relevant County, state, and national positions. Measure ER would authorize Los Angeles County to impose a temporary 0.5% countywide general sales tax for five years, beginning October 1, 2026. County materials estimate that the measure would generate approximately $1 billion annually and is intended to respond to severe federal cuts affecting hospitals, clinics, public health services, and other essential services.

League Positions Supporting Action

The League’s support is grounded in adopted positions on the Los Angeles County Budget, State and Local Finances, and Health Care. These positions support effective use of revenue, pursuit of needed funding sources, flexible and sufficient local revenue systems, accountability in taxation, and access to basic quality health care.

Measure ER aligns with these positions because it is a temporary County revenue measure intended to help preserve County hospitals, clinics, public health services, and related safety-net care. The measure also includes annual independent audits and a citizens’ oversight committee.

Concerns Considered

The League recognizes that Measure ER is a general tax, not a special tax dedicated solely to health care. Revenue would be deposited into the County general fund and may be used for County services.

The League also recognizes that sales taxes raise legitimate equity concerns because they generally place a greater burden on lower-income households as a share of income.

Why the League Supports a Yes Vote

The League concluded that Measure ER is not a perfect funding mechanism. The League recognized that the County services most at risk are services used heavily by the County’s most vulnerable residents. These same residents are more likely to feel the financial effect of a sales tax. At the same time, they are also among those most likely to be harmed if the services Measure ER is intended to preserve are reduced or lost.

The League determined that protecting essential safety-net services outweighed the concerns raised by the tax structure. Failing to protect essential County hospitals, clinics, public health services, and related safety-net services would likely do greater harm to the County’s most vulnerable residents.

A Yes vote on Measure ER authorizes Los Angeles County to impose the temporary 0.5% countywide general sales tax for five years, beginning October 1, 2026. Because Measure ER is a general tax, the revenue would go into the County general fund and may be used for County services. The measure also creates a citizens’ oversight committee and requires annual independent audits.