Santa Clara County presses state on health funding
County leaders, nurses and advocates rallied at Valley Medical Center in San Jose as California budget talks near a deadline. They warned that public hospitals and support services face deep losses from federal and state funding changes.
Santa Clara County officials and community groups gathered Friday at Valley Medical Center in San Jose to urge state lawmakers to protect health care funding before the June 15 budget deadline. The rally focused on public hospitals, Medi-Cal losses and services used by older adults, people with disabilities and undocumented residents.
County officials said Measure A, the local sales tax increase approved by voters last year, is expected to raise $330 million a year through 2031 but will not cover a projected $787 million shortfall. The Assembly budget includes a $250 million allocation for public hospitals, while Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan adds more losses for those hospitals in the coming fiscal years.