Muni is facing the largest budget deficit in its history, KQED reported. Prop H is San Francisco's local answer. It would add a parcel tax for 15 years, starting in 2027, to pay for Muni operations.

What owners would pay

The tax is based on a property's type and size, not its value, according to the League of Women Voters of San Francisco. Rates would rise with inflation.

  • Single-family homes and condos: $129 a year for up to 3,000 square feet. Bigger homes pay 42 cents per square foot from 3,001 to 5,000 square feet and $1.99 per square foot above that.
  • Multi-family buildings: $249 for up to 5,000 square feet, plus 19.5 cents per square foot above that, capped at $50,000.
  • Commercial and mixed-use: $799 for up to 5,000 square feet, plus more for bigger buildings, capped at $400,000.
  • Vacant land: $0 up to 2,000 square feet, otherwise $392.

SPUR said the city estimates 95% of single-family homes would pay $129. Owners 65 or older who live in their homes could get a reduced tax or none, and SROs and government and nonprofit buildings are exempt, the League said. Owners of rent-controlled buildings could pass up to half the tax to tenants, capped at $65 per unit a year.

How much it raises

KQED put the total at about $177 million a year, while SPUR estimated about $160 million. The money could pay only for Muni operations and running the tax, SPUR said. The League said the SFMTA expects its deficit to reach $307 million by 2027.

What each side says

Supporters include the SF Democratic Party, the SF Chamber of Commerce, the SF Labor Council and Transit Workers Union Local 250A, the League said. KQED said that without the tax, Muni could cut up to 20 routes, double waits on Metro lines and cut back cable car service. Opponents, including the SF Republican Party, say the tax has no strings attached on costs and is unfair because it's based on size, not value. The League noted that supervisors could change or end the tax without a vote.

SPUR said Prop H plus the regional Measure RTM are expected to close Muni's operating deficit.

More on the San Francisco ballot: where and how to vote in SF, when SF results come out and Props D, E and F compared.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.