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BART is relying on a vote in November to ensure its future is financially viable.<\/p>\n
Yalonda M. James\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
Bay Area voters made one thing resoundingly clear during\u00a0Tuesday\u2019s election<\/a>: They do not like new taxes.<\/p>\n This does not bode well for BART and Muni in November.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In Contra Costa County, voters were poised to quash a sales tax that would offset federal cuts to medical care. El Cerrito residents torpedoed a parcel tax for a library<\/a>. A property tax measure in Oakland<\/a> to fund emergency services and help for the homeless was trailing on Wednesday. While voters in Brisbane may narrowly renew a parcel tax for the school district, it seemed unlikely their neighbors in Redwood City would rally enough support for a similar school district tax.<\/p>\n Results appeared similarly mixed in Santa Clara County, where, as of Wednesday, the Palo Alto Unified School District parcel tax fell short two-thirds vote it required. In\u00a0San Francisco<\/a>, a measure to hike taxes on large companies with high-paid CEOs was lagging on Wednesday but still too close to call.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Officials in the transportation world have tried to remain optimistic, pointing to a SMART train<\/a> sales tax extension that won 70% of the vote in Marin and Sonoma counties. To many observers, it demonstrates not only that residents value transit but that they view SMART as a centerpiece for a new wave of development.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there a strong anti-tax sentiment in the Bay Area? Well, yes,\u201d said John Goodwin, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. \u201cBut just because people are anti-tax, does not mean they are anti-transit.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n