Parcel Tax Information

In addition to the healthcare services and wellness education that Washington Health provides, the health system is one of the largest employers in South County, with over 2,000 employees. As a result, Washington Health is a key driver of economic growth locally. Around half of Washington Health's employees live in Alameda County, and their spending has a multiplier effect on the local retail and service economies in the County. Washington supports many construction jobs on campus as a result of ongoing capital improvement projects. Washington Health is also one of the most important funders of the nonprofit sector in South County, offering sponsorships and hosting organizations on campus that serve cancer patients, under-resourced children, and residents in need of durable medical equipment.

All residents of Southern Alameda County will benefit from the resources funded by the parcel tax. As a general public hospital, Washington Health provides care to everyone living in Southern Alameda County, regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status. That means that all community members have access 24-7 to our trauma service and emergency department. Before Washington Health was designated a trauma center in 2024, residents involved in a traumatic incident in South County were transported by ambulance to Castro Valley or San Jose for care. Now, trauma care is available in South County without treatment being delayed by transportation time.

By law, the proceeds from general obligation bonds can only be used for construction projects, not for purchasing clinical equipment or medical technology. Parcel tax proceeds can be used to replace equipment, acquire new technology, or sustain patient-care programs.

As the population of Southern Alameda County has grown from 265,000 in 1990 to 343,000 today, the demand for local healthcare services has also grown. Washington Health has kept pace with the growing community by adding new, life-saving services such as the trauma center. The expansion of essential services locally comes at a time when all costs are rising including pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, advanced technology, and labor.

The parcel tax is a form of property tax that assesses owners $0.05 per square foot of structural improvements, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually. The parcel tax is in effect for twelve years and will sunset on June 30, 2038. By law, there is no senior exemption or income-based exemption. The tax is assessed within Washington Township Health Care District, which is comprised of the cities of Fremont, Newark, Union City, a portion of southern Hayward and unincorporated Sunol. All money raised by Measure B will be controlled locally and used only for healthcare services at Washington Health. Funds cannot be taken by the state and will not be used for administrators’ salaries.

This tax will help Washington Health maintain life-saving health care services locally in the Tri-Cities area. The tax will fund future investments in medical technology and equipment that ensure residents will have local access to state-of-the-art care. The tax will also allow Washington Health to develop new service lines and facilities that incorporate advances in medical technology and treatment. Measure B will maintain and strengthen patient care, including:

• Supporting ongoing trauma center and emergency department operations and purchasing new equipment to help Washington Health stay abreast of advances in medical technology
• Acquiring new medical devices and surgical instrumentation for operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs and structural heart labs
• Purchasing advanced imaging technology (e.g. CT, MRI)
• Strengthening preparations and acquiring equipment to respond to future public health emergencies (emerging infectious diseases and bioterror attacks) and natural disasters (earthquakes and firestorms).