Item No. {{item.number}}
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – ACTION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
DATE: JULY 24, 2025
SUBJECT: FEEDBACK REGARDING C/CAG VOTE ON SMC TRANSIT TAX
PROPOSAL
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council review the SMC Transit Tax and provide feedback to the Mayor regarding an upcoming vote by C/CAG on the issue.
BACKGROUND
SB 63 (Wiener and Arreguin) authorizes a regional citizens’ initiative to establish a local sales tax for public transit funding. The measure would allow for:
A ½-cent sales tax in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Up to a 1-cent sales tax in San Francisco
The tax would be in effect for a period of 10 to 15 years and could be approved by a simple majority vote of the electorate. While currently limited to Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties, the bill includes a provision allowing San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties to opt into the measure by the end of July 2025. After deducting administrative costs, all remaining revenues would be allocated to AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, and Muni, and may only be used for transitrelated purposes.
The Mayor serves as the Town’s representative to the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG), which has scheduled a special in-person Board meeting for July 30 to consider participation in the proposed regional sales tax measure. The discussion will focus on whether San Mateo County should opt into the measure and, if so, whether the tax rate should be set at ¼ cent or ½ cent.
ANALYSIS
SMC Transit Tax
JULY 24, 2025
Attachment No. 1 is the July 2, 2025, presentation to the SamTrans Board regarding the proposed tax measure. Attachment No. 2 is the May 2025 presentation by EMC Research to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority summarizing survey results of likely voters on the measure.
Attachment No. 3 is the full text of Senate Bill No. 63 (Wiener and Arreguin).
The Town would not receive direct funding from the proposed tax measure. While the Town does not have a significant sales tax base that would be directly impacted, passage of the measure would result in sales tax rates exceeding 10% in 9 to 11 jurisdictions within San Mateo County.
The proposed measure could provide funding to support SamTrans and Caltrain services operating within San Mateo County, including service through Atherton.
Council discussion is recommended to consider the implications of the measure and to provide direction to the Mayor regarding the Town’s position.
FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
Goal A - Preserve Small Town Character & Quality of Life Goal D - Be Forward Thinking
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
ATTACHMENTS
1. July 2, 2025, Sam Trans Presentation
2. EMC Research on Likely Votes
3. SB 63