The signature gathering campaign utilized paid workers and volunteers. Each signature will be reviewed by elections officials for each of the five counties<\/a> before the effort\u00a0can qualify for the Nov. 3 midterm election ballot. Advocates expect to know if the measure qualifies in about a month, but said it depends county-by-county.<\/p>\n \u201c(Collecting more signatures than required) shows the level of enthusiasm and the level of love that our community has for public transit, an under-discussed but key part of the Bay Area\u2019s identity,\u201d Harry Neil, a leader of the volunteer signature gathering campaign in the South Bay, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe saw this not only as an opportunity to help save transit, but also to build a wider of culture of advocates for transit in the Bay Area.\u201d<\/p>\n Agencies such as VTA and BART are the main ways to get around on public transit, but are struggling with multiyear budget deficits.<\/p>\n VTA surpassed record ridership expectations<\/a>\u00a0with Super Bowl 60 in February, but projects a $15 million deficit by 2027<\/a>. BART on April 17 reported<\/a> a 10% year-over-year surge in trips this month, but faces an annual structural deficit of $350 million to $400 million. The agency has warned<\/a> it might close 15 stations with a 70% reduction in service if the proposed tax measure fails.<\/p>\n A November poll<\/a> ranked Santa Clara County as having the lowest voter support for the initiative out of all five counties, which also includes Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and San Francisco.<\/p>\n San Jose resident Eden Bingioba said he takes the VTA bus twice a day to and from work, and otherwise gets around on foot because he lives downtown. He said the burden of funding transit should fall on the wealthy.<\/p>\n \u201cThings are already expensive. Gas is expensive. Rent is expensive. We already get taxed a lot,\u201d Bingioba told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cAdding another (tax) would be too much. The higher ups should pay for it. The wealthiest people in this region can definitely afford it.\u201d<\/p>\n VTA\u2019s strategy for supporting the proposed sales tax increase is to give voters a spending plan<\/a> before Election Day. The public transit agency is drafting a list of possible projects and working to\u00a0outline how revenue from the five-county sales tax, if approved, would be used. The VTA board of directors is expected to adopt a formal plan in June.<\/p>\n Sergio Lopez, chair of the VTA board and a Campbell councilmember,\u00a0is optimistic that the volunteer component of the signature gathering campaign ensures the initiative qualifies for the ballot. Advocates said the Bay Area-wide campaign used roughly 1,000 volunteers.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are obviously a lot of measures competing locally, statewide, for places on the ballot and mostly those use paid signature gatherers.\u00a0We had a largely volunteer effort,\u201d Lopez told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe\u2019re getting people who really care. I think it bodes very well.\u201d<\/p>\n Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association board member Omar Chatty anticipates fighting the measure if it qualifies. He said transit agencies should cut down on spending before asking taxpayers for their wallets.<\/p>\n \u201cThe taxes are too high already and it\u2019s time for public agencies to do what private businesses do, and they need to look at their cost structure and see if they\u2019re getting the most bang for their buck,\u201d Chatty told San Jose Spotlight.<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/interactive-321838904008.png\")
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