Muni is staring at the biggest operating hole in its history. Proposition H on San Francisco's Nov. 3 ballot would put a new parcel tax on almost every property in the city for 15 years — money locked to transit operations, not bike lanes or capital megaprojects.

What you would pay

The tax runs July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2042, and adjusts for inflation after year one. Rates are based on building type and square footage, not assessed value, according to the SFMTA's Prop H page and the legal text summarized by SPUR and GrowSF:

  • Most single-family homes: $129 a year (the city and SPUR say about 95% stay at that base; larger homes add per-square-foot charges with no cap).
  • Multifamily: $249 base, plus charges above 5,000 square feet, capped at $50,000.
  • Non-residential / mixed-use: $799 base with tiered per-square-foot add-ons, capped at $400,000.
  • Seniors 65+ can seek an exemption on a primary residence they own; SRO square footage is carved out; landlords of rent-controlled units may pass through at most $65 per unit per year under the measure's rules.

The Controller's Office, cited by KQED and GrowSF, estimates about $177 million a year. SFMTA materials describe roughly $150 million toward the deficit plus about $10 million for service-quality improvements — the same order of magnitude, framed differently. A citizens oversight committee and independent audits are built in.

Why it is on the ballot

Fare and parking revenue never fully recovered after the pandemic, and one-time federal and state backfills are ending. SFMTA projects a deficit on the order of $307 million in 2027 if nothing changes. Without new money, the agency has warned of cutting up to 20 routes, longer waits, ending regular service around 9 p.m., and scaling back cable cars and free or discounted pass programs. Prop H qualified by voter signatures (certified June 12, 2026) and needs a simple majority. It is meant to work alongside the five-county Regional Transit Measure (RTM) on the same ballot; SPUR says both are needed to close the gap.

What your vote means

  • Yes: Create the 15-year Muni parcel tax at the rates above.
  • No: No new parcel tax; SFMTA keeps hunting for other fixes or deeper cuts.

Mayor Daniel Lurie authored the official argument in favor. The San Francisco Republican Party authored the official argument against, calling it a blank check without hard efficiency mandates. Check the Department of Elections voter pamphlet for the controller's statement and full arguments.