The Cupertino City Council voted 3–2 on Oct. 13 to oppose Santa Clara County Measure A, a proposed 0.625% countywide sales‑tax measure, and authorized the mayor to send a letter expressing that opposition and warning the tax could be an impediment to cities seeking their own local revenue measures.

The vote followed nearly an hour of public comment that included doctors, nurses and nonprofit leaders urging the council either to support or remain neutral on Measure A because of what they described as a looming crisis in county health‑care funding. Michael Elliott, executive director of Valley Health Foundation, said the county’s action is a “temporary solution to prevent hospital closure” and urged the council to reconsider opposition. “It is our best effort to avoid this tsunami coming at all of us,” Elliott said.

Multiple nurses and clinicians who identified themselves as staff of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and other county facilities told the council the county system includes the region’s only level‑1 trauma center and one of a few burn centers; several said they feared service reductions if the funding gap is not closed. Alan Kumar, a registered nurse at Valley Medical Center, told the council, “If you are involved in any catastrophic accident, I guarantee you will wish someone of us were taking care of you or your loved ones.”

Other speakers urged the council to stay neutral or oppose Measure A and to focus on local issues. Public commenters who opposed the county measure criticized its timing, the degree of transparency and the regressive nature of sales taxes. Neil Park McClintock called on the council to remain neutral and said the county has broad public support for the funding proposal; another speaker urged the council to “stay out of politics at the state or federal level” and focus on local governance.

After public comment, the city’s legislative review subcommittee recommended the council oppose Measure A and send a position letter. Vice Mayor Brian Moore moved to accept that recommendation and authorize the mayor to send a letter opposing the measure; Council member Ravi Wong seconded and the council later amended the draft language to add a statement that the county measure would be an impediment to other cities’ efforts to enact local revenue measures and to note the county has opted into a separate transit measure (a 0.5% sales‑tax proposal) slated for a future ballot.

The final roll call was: Council member Sima Fruin—No; Council member Asha Mohan—No; Council member Ravi Wong—Yes; Vice Mayor Brian Moore—Yes; Mayor Eva Chao—Yes. The motion carried, 3–2. The council authorized the mayor to send the amended opposition letter to the county and other recipients.

The council’s action formalizes a municipal objection to Measure A; supporters of the measure have argued it is a temporary, five‑year proposal to shore up county hospital services and includes independent audits and a citizen oversight committee. Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens and Senator Josh Becker—both present earlier in the meeting—had told the council they supported Measure A at the county level during public remarks and encouraged residents to engage with their district offices.

Ending: The letter opposing Measure A will be sent by the mayor; the council’s action does not prevent individual council members or residents from voting for or against the measure when it appears on the ballot.