What is Measure ER?
Measure ER will be on the ballot for June 2, 2026 for voters in Los Angeles County to consider. The measure’s official title is The Essential Services Restoration Act for Los Angeles County and If passed would implement a temporary General Sales Tax of half a cent that would be used for essential health services. LA County officials estimate that the tax, if the measure is passed, would generate approximately $1 billion annually.
Why supporting Measure ER is important?
After Congress passed H.R. 1 ‘the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’, in July 2025, it came with drastic changes to federal eligibility, enrollment and work requirements, to maintain Medicaid insurance. In the state of California, this program is known as Medi-Cal and is the low-cost health coverage option, provided to millions of low-income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The County has 3.3 million residents who rely on Medi-Cal. That is 1 in 3 county residents, including nearly one million children. The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County projects that H.R.1 will have a disastrous impact, forcing up to 1.5 million County residents off coverage. This will result in people not taking care of their health care needs, missing appointments, not taking prescription medications, all detrimental to the overall well-being of the people of Los Angeles County.
By supporting this measure in adopting a temporary 1/2 cent tax, it will generate $1 billion annually for five years, to fund community clinics, county hospitals and other safety-net health services providers. A nine-member citizens’ oversight committee will be established to provide transparency and ensure fiscal accountability as to any revenues raised by the measure. The committee would include the directors of the Department of Public Health and Department of Health Services, with one additional member to be appointed by each of the members of the Board of Supervisors, SEIU 721 and SEIU 2015. The members appointed by the Board of Supervisors shall represent community health clinics, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and/or reproductive health agencies. Additionally, LA County’s Auditor-Controller would have an independent auditor prepare a report to be filed with the Board of Supervisors by March 31 each year.
The funds would be spent in the following manner:
• 45% for the Department of Health Services to fund a limited network of non-profit partner providers,
• 5% would be allocated proportionately based on patient visits to nonprofit health agencies in Los Angeles County serving low income and underserved populations, primarily furnishing family planning and reproductive health services,
• 4% for school-based health needs and programs,
• 10% for the Department of Public Health to support core public health functions and awarding grants to support health equity,
• 3% for the Department of Public Social Services to support Medicaid outreach and enrollment activities, and work and volunteer programs,
• 2.5% to support Correctional Health Services,
• 22% for financial support to the Department of Health Services to safeguard its public hospital and clinic services,
• 5% to support non-profit safety net hospitals in Los Angeles County,
• 2.5% for in-home supportive services (IHSS) for the elderly and those living with disabilities,
• 1% to provide financial support to the City of Pasadena Public Health Department and the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services to safeguard their public services.