In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters.
Why voting YES on Measure A matters:
- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland.
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city.
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors.
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure.
Top supporters of Measure A:
- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A.
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle.
Top opposition to Measure A:
- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses.
Misinformation about Measure A includes:
- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A.
In December 2024, the Oakland City Council unanimously voted to send a sales tax increase to the voters in the April 2025 special election cycle. The proposed increase would raise Oakland’s sales tax by .5%, from 10.25% to 10.75%, bringing it level with other nearby Alameda County communities, like Union City, San Leandro, Albany, Hayward, and Alameda. The increase is intended to bring in an additional $20 million to $30 million annually, and is designed to help plug a significant budget shortfall that threatens to upend the delivery of local public services in the coming years. If approved by a 50%+1 vote, the sales tax increase would be instituted for 10 years, after which it would revert to the 10.25% level if not renewed by voters.
Why voting YES on Measure A matters:
- Oakland’s budget shortfall could be as high as $265 million in the two-year cycle that begins in July 2025, and efforts to balance the budget are likely to result in cuts to the General Purpose Funds that account for 38% of the overall city budget and are used to fund free public services, like police and fire. Voting YES on Measure A will support the continued staffing and delivery of these services to provide ongoing public safety for Oakland.
- As the City Council works to balance the budget for the 2025–2027 fiscal cycle, the alternative to this half-percent increase in sales tax is likely to be mass layoffs that will have a detrimental effect on the local economy. Voting YES on Measure A will provide an economic solution to the current budget crisis and maintain funding for positions filled by dedicated neighbors across the city.
- In a recent city survey, residents indicated concern about Oakland’s ongoing housing and homelessness crisis, which would be one of the critical areas addressed by the increased tax revenue. Voting YES on Measure A will support continued efforts to expand services and housing development for unhoused neighbors.
- To date, Oakland’s tax revenue has not kept pace with the expense of running the city’s government and providing high-quality resources and services to residents. Voting YES on Measure A will increase the city’s tax contribution to provide for this critical local infrastructure.
Top supporters of Measure A:
- Measure A has the backing of most local unions, which are working to protect the city-funded positions of their members. An independent expenditure committee has raised $187,000 in support of Measure A, and is led by the fire union Vice President Seth Olyer, who has been outspoken about the danger of further cuts to the fire budget amid California’s ongoing wildfire crisis.
- The April special election will also include a race for the vacant mayoral seat, and at least two of the candidates—Loren Taylor and Barbara Lee—have expressed support for Measure A.
- Measure A received unanimous approval from the 8-member City Council in December, which views it as a clear and reasonable way to increase city revenue for the upcoming budget cycle.
Top opposition to Measure A:
- There has been little organized opposition to Measure A, although a recent city survey of budget priorities indicated that 44% of Oaklanders are opposed to the sales tax increase, and another 25% are undecided about the measure. The survey indicated that a record number of Oakland residents are frustrated with the city’s government, and that many are anxious about safety and concerned about homelessness. Many respondents indicated their commitment to the sensible funding of city services, like police, fire, infrastructure services, and small businesses.
Misinformation about Measure A includes:
- To date, there has not been any significant misinformation about Measure A.