Oakland’s Measure NN, an increase and expansion of an existing parcel tax for police and firefighters, led the way with about 72% of the vote, based on early filings from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters Office.
The measure took effect after about 29,600 votes were counted from the city’s 252,382 registered voters as of about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday. Because Measure NN was placed on the ballot through signature gathering, and not by the City Council, it requires a simple majority to pass.
Measure NN would extend Measure Z, which was passed in 2014 and expires at the end of this year, for another nine years.
It would raise roughly $47.4 million annually if the existing parcel tax on single-family homes were increased from $133.45 to $198, according to an analysis by the city auditor.
It would also increase the tax on multifamily properties from $91.17 per unit to $132 per unit.
Non-residential properties are taxed based on a formula based on facade size and total square footage, which includes a dollar amount as a multiplier. Under Measure NN, that multiplier would increase from $68.35 to $198, the city auditor said.
Measure NN would also increase the city tax on commercial parking from 8.5 percent to 10 percent.
If passed, it would require the city to increase minimum police staffing to 700 sworn officers, up from the current 678, and would prohibit the city from firing officers if the total number of officers falls by dismissals fall below 800.
It also bans layoffs of firefighters below 480.
If the city fails to fund the 700 officers, it would be prohibited from collecting parking and lot taxes for that fiscal year.
If the city budgets for officers but the workforce falls below 700, parcel tax collections for the next fiscal year will be prohibited and parking taxes will be suspended for 12 months.
Measure NN would replace the current nine-member Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Commission with a five-member Oakland Public Safety Planning and Oversight Commission, which would have similar responsibilities but also write four-year violence reduction plans for the City Council to vote on. on.
The committee created to raise campaign contributions in favor of the measure, Oaklanders Together For A Safer Oakland, has raised about $920,000 so far.
Major donors include Blue Shield of California, Kaiser Permanente, the East Bay Asian Youth Center, PG&E and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021.
Supporters say the money will help improve 911 response times, add more community police officers and invest in anti-violence programs such as ceasefire, along with job training, mental health services and high school graduation assistance.
“Measure NN must be adopted. If not, we will lose funding for community policing, proven youth programs, and critical emergency response,” the ballot measure in favor said.
Supporters listed on the Yes on Measure NN website include all members of the Oakland City Council, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and state Assembly members Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, and Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, among others.
While there is no organized committee raising money to defeat Measure NN, opponents argue that it does not provide sufficient protections to ensure the taxes are spent as intended and that it was drafted in secret, without the benefit of public hearings or input .
“Don’t buy scare tactics! If you reject this measure, the city will be forced to write another one that is cheaper, better written, provides more officers, and provides better accountability,” the voting argument against Measure NN states. .
Opponents include City Council candidates Len Raphael and Nancy Sidebotham, and Alameda County Taxpayers Association President Marcus Crawley.
