PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Oct. 9, 2026
A statewide taxpayer advocacy organization is urging El Dorado County voters to reject Measure S, a proposed 30-year sales tax increase intended to fund local hospital facilities, fire protection, emergency response and wildfire prevention.
The California Taxpayer Protection Committee announced its opposition in an Oct. 9 news release issued by President Tom Hudson. The committee argues that the measure would place an additional burden on taxpayers, disproportionately benefit a private hospital and create uncertainty about whether the promised funding would remain protected over the next three decades.
California Taxpayer Protection Committee Urges NO Vote On Measure S
Sacramento, CA – The California Taxpayer Protection Committee strongly OPPOSES the
Measure S Tax Increase Proposal before voters in El Dorado County. Measure S proposes to raise
the County Sales Tax up to 7.625 cents for the next 30 years and give that money to Marshall Hospital,
13 fire districts and 20 firesafe councils.
“Measure S is morally wrong in that it requires taxpayers to help fund a politically connected
business over competing businesses,”
explained Tom Hudson, President of the California Taxpayer Protection Committee,
“Crony Capitalism is wrong, government should not pick winners and losers”.
“Empire building bureaucrats never have enough money,”
continued Hudson,
“proponents forget to mention that El Dorado County taxpayers are already paying an ambulance tax, dedicated parcel taxes and benefit assessment district fees in some communities, and nearly 30 years ago, voters approved a ½ cent sales tax increase requiring that money be allocated for public safety.”
“Voters need to understand that California State Legislature can change sales tax allocations
with a majority vote, change the California State Constitution with a 2/3 vote, and has a long history of
raiding local governments for their sales and property tax money to balance California’s budget during
recessions or overspending binges,”
observed Hudson,
“so proponents claim that Measure S funding will continue to be there for the next 30 years is false”.“Measure S is a sweetheart deal for a single private hospital and an empire-building scheme for
fire department bureaucrats,” concluded Hudson.
The California Taxpayer Protection Committee is a non-partisan statewide taxpayer advocacy
organization that fights to stop reckless and unnecessary government spending. The group supports
and opposes issues and candidates which seek justice for taxpayers, lower taxes and fees, tax
simplification, and tax reform.
The deadline to return ballots is Tuesday, November 2.
