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Smart Voter
Alameda County, CA November 15, 2011 Election
Measure I
Temporary Fiscal Emergency Parcel Tax
City of Oakland

2/3 Approval Required

Fail: 19011 / 37.7% Yes votes ...... 31353 / 62.3% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Information shown below: Summary | Fiscal Impact | Official Information | Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Shall the City of Oakland establish a five year temporary fiscal emergency parcel tax to preserve essential city services, including fire, police services, and police technology, youth violence prevention, library, services, parks and recreation, and street repair, by establishing an $80 parcel tax for single-family homes and specified amounts for multi-family and commercial properties with an exemption for low-income households?

Summary Prepared by City Attorney:
This measure would authorize the City of Oakland to impose a five-year "special" parcel tax. This is a "special" parcel tax because the City can use the tax revenue only for the following purposes specified in the measure: to fund the costs of restoring police and fire services, police technology, park maintenance and recreational services, library services, including technology, youth violence prevention, street and infrastructure repair, and senior services.

An annual review is required to ensure the proper use of parcel tax revenue. The tax will be imposed through fiscal year 2015-2016.

For each single family residential parcel, the parcel tax will be $80.00. For multiple unit residential parcels, the parcel tax will be $54.66 per unit. For non-residential parcels, the parcel tax will vary depending on the frontage and square footage of the parcel, based on the formula specified in Part 2, Section 2 (C) of the ordinance. An exemption from the parcel tax is available to qualifying low income households.

Passage of this measure requires approval by two-thirds of the electorate. A "yes" vote will approve the parcel tax for the uses specified in the ordinance; a "no" vote will reject the parcel tax.

Barbara a. Parker
City Attorney

Fiscal Impact from City Auditor:
Measure I authorizes the City of Oakland to impose a temporary parcel tax on residents in the City of Oakland for five years, beginning fiscal year (FY) 2011-12 and ending FY 2015-16. The tax proceeds will be deposited into a special account and may be used to pay for any costs and expenses related to or arising from City:

  • Police Services and Police technology
  • Fire Services
  • Parks and Recreational Services
  • Library Services, including technology
  • Youth Violence Prevention
  • Street and infrastructure repair

The tax rates may not be increased by action of the City Council without the applicable voter approval but the City Council may make any other changes to this Ordinance as are consistent with its purpose. An annual review shall be performed by an independent firm to ensure accountability and proper disbursement of the proceeds in accordance with the objectives stated within the measure. The chief fiscal officer shall prepare an annual report, setting forth the amount of fund collected and expended. Tax proceeds may be used to pay for the audit and annual report.

Under the proposed parcel tax increase, Single-Family Residential Parcels will incur an annual rate of $80 per parcel; Multiple-Family Residential Unit Parcels will incur an annual tax of $54.66 per unit; Non-Residential Parcels are calculated by multiplying the annual tax rate of $40.97 by the total number of Single Family Equivalents (determined by the frontage and square footage).

Financial Impact Under the proposed new parcel tax, the City is projecting to receive $12,052,379 in parcel taxes for FY 2011-12, The parcel tax under each classification is shown below:

Office of the City Administrator's Analysis

ClassificationNo. of Parcels# Units Per Single Family Residential Unit EquivalentsProposed Assessment FY 11-12Proposed Assessment FY 11-12
Single-Family80,85580,855$80.00$6,468,400
Multi-Family16,72379,071$54.66$4,322,021
Non-Residential8,12930,802$40.97$1,261,958
Total105,707190,728-$12,052,379

The total amount in parcel tax revenue projected for all five years is $60,261,894. However, the projected net revenue after exemptions and fees is $55,590,793, as illustrated below.

Office of the City Administrator's Analysis

YearFiscal YearEstimated Revenue prior to low income exemption, delinquency factor & County collection feeNet Estimated Revenue after exemptions & fees
1FY 2011-12$12,052,379$11,118,159
2FY 2012-13$12,052379$11,118,159
3FY 2013-14$12,052,379$11,118,159
4FY 2014-15$12,052,379$11,118,159
5FY 2015-16$12,052,379$11,118,159
Total$60,261,894$55,590,793

In its analysis, the City Administration did not factor in taxes imposed on Residential Hotels and tax exemptions for Affordable Housing Projects and Foreclosed Single Family Homes. The City Administration did factor in low income exemptions, delinquencies and the county collection fee.

Based on our analysis of the data provided by City staff, the projected revenues appear accurate. We relied on the best data available at this time, however actual results may vary from City staff estimates.

s/COURTNEY A. RUBY, CPA, CFE
City Auditor

Official Sources of Information

Impartial Analysis from City Attorney
This measure creates a five-year "special" parcel tax to address the fiscal needs of the City. A "special" tax is a tax that the City can use only for the purposes specified in the tax measure. The tax would be effective for fiscal year ("FY") 2011-2012 through FY 2015-2016. The tax rates in this measure comply with the California Constitution. The measure must be approved by twothirds of Oakland voters.

Purpose of Tax

The tax revenue may be used only to restore City:
Police services and police technology
Fire services
Parks maintenance and recreational services
Library services, including technology
Youth violence prevention
Street and infrastructure repair
Senior Services

The City Council is obligated to ensure that revenue generated by this special parcel tax is used only for the purposes specified above. The City Council has discretion to decide how to allocate the funds among the listed categories.

Cost of Tax

The tax will cost owner of a single family residential parcel $80.00 annually. Multiple unit residential parcels will be taxed at $54.66 per unit. The tax for nonresidential parcels will be based on frontage and square footage of the parcel, in accordance with the formula specified in Part 2, Section 2(C) of the ordinance. Hotels' taxes will depend upon the percentage of transient occupancy, in accordance with the formula specified in Part 2, Section 2(E) of the ordinance.

The ordinance directs City Council to amend the Rent Adjustment Ordinance to allow owners of rental units to pass through one-half of the tax to their tenants in the form of a rent increase.

Tax Exemptions and Reductions

The measure exempts the following:

1) Low Income Households: An owner who lives on the parcel in question and whose income qualifies the owner for public housing under federal law as a "very low income" individual.

2) Undeveloped parcels: An, owner of an undeveloped parcel is exempt from the tax if the parcel was undeveloped for at least six months of the year.

The measure reduces the tax as follows:

1) Affordable housing projects:

Rental housing projects for senior, disabled and low-income households that are owned by nonprofits and exempt from ad valorem property tax are liable for only 50 % of the tax.

2) Rebates to tenants in foreclosed single family homes:

The City will provide a rebate of one-half of the tax and any subsequent increases if a tenant (i) lived in the unit before foreclosure proceedings commenced; and (ii) is at or below the income considered "very low income" so that the tenant qualifies for public housing under federal law.

Annual Review and Report

This measure also requires an annual review by an independent firm. It further requires that the chief fiscal officer prepare an annual report stating the amount of funds the City has collected and expended. The measure authorizes the City to use tax proceeds pay the cost of the report.

Barbara J. Parker
City Attorney

  Nonpartisan Information

League of Women Voters

Events

League of Women Voters Presentation of Pros & Cons of the Ballot Measures

  • Date: Friday, October 21, 2011
    Time: 10 - 11 AM
    Place: Lincoln Court
    Corner of Lincoln Avenue & MacArthur Blvd.
  • Date: Monday, October 24
    Time: 9:30 - 10:30 AM
    Place: Downtown Oakland Senior Center
    200 Grand Avenue
  • Date: Thursday, October 27
    Time: 7:30 - 8:45 PM
    Place: Rockridge Branch Library
    5766 College Avenue, upstairs meeting room
    elevator access
League Pros & Cons Presentation in Spanish
  • Date: Wednesday, October 26
    Time:11 AM - Noon
    Place: Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center
    3301 East 12th Street, Suite 201
News and Analysis

Oakland Tribune

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Arguments For Measure I Arguments Against Measure I
Fair Share Parcel Tax

Oakland is making progress, and we need to keep moving forward. We can't afford to go back. Over the past five years; Oakland has cut more than $170 million in urgently needed services, eliminated 528 positions, and cut its budget by 25%.

Measure I, for 25 cents per day, will provide $11 million a year for the next five years, and give Oakland the ability to recover from the worst recession since the depression.

Measure I will:

  • Restore longer-day services at senior centers
  • Support public safety technology
  • Add crews to fix potholes
  • Restore park maintenance staff
  • Support youth violence intervention programs
  • And other urgently needed city services.

This is the final step in the City's Fair Share Budget process. After tough decisions, painful cuts and employee give backs of an additional 9% on top of previous year contributions, we ask the community to vote yes on Measure I to prepare Oakland to be poised to take off when the economy recovers.

A coalition of community advocates, business leaders, seniors, library patrons, parks supporters and Oaklanders from every district support the Measure.

Oakland is beginning to make progress in many areas. Let's help keep moving forward.

Jean Quan - Mayor
Anthony Batts - Chief of Police
Mark Hoffmann - Fire Chief
Carmen Martinez - Director Library Services
Susan Montauk

Rebuttal to Arguments For
Continuously asking Oaklanders to pay more taxes is not the solution to getting Oakland back on track. We say this tax is the wrong solution.

Here we are again facing another regressive property tax of $80 per parcel, being told that the City's budget has been cut by 25% and that's why we should pay more taxes. There's nothing indicating these funds will be handled any more wisely or efficiently than the last parcel tax we agreed to. To this day we don't get what we were promised in 2004 under Measure Y, yet we still pay that tax.

Proponents claim that this measure will restore or support numerous services and programs but the measure DOES NOT require any improvements and has no accountability. The money could easily, and legally, be used to pay for pensions or salaries that are currently bankrupting the City. It does nothing to address the City's structural problems, including a $450 million pension debt that the City has no plan on how to repay. Proponents should focus their time addressing the debt associated with our current pension system rather than asking Oaklanders to pay higher taxes.

$80 is a lot of money ($400 over five years), particularly for homeowners who are on the brink of foreclosure, and others who can barely make their monthly rent payments.

This is another tax-grab without proof that our tax dollars will be spent wisely or efficiently. Demand real reform; don't give the City another blank check. Vote NO.

Frank Castro - Chair, Greater Rockridge NCPC
Maria J. Vermiglio - San Antonio, NCPC, Member & Senior
Marleen Sacks - Attorney/Public Safety Advocate
Gloria Jeffery - Chair of MacArthur NCPC
Mimi Rohr - Montclair NCPC Vice‐Chair

This measure would add a new property tax of $80 per parcel in Oakland and has no accountability. This would bring the current fixed taxes to $820 annually representing a 27% increase on Oakland Specific Taxes. This tax doesn't take into account your income level or property value; and it can be passed onto renters. This is a regressive tax and should be defeated.

There's NO guarantee that more money will translate into increased service levels. This measure doesn't include specifics about how your tax dollars will be used; it only includes a laundry list of things the tax "may be used for."

Oakland has the HIGHEST property tax rate in Alameda County. In 2008, Oakland homeowners paid $7,300 in property taxes on a home worth $500,000; the average in Alameda County was $6,300. Oakland's unemployment rate of 15% has led to thousands of foreclosures. In the last three years over 12,000 properties in Oakland have gone into foreclosure proceedings, with rates this high, it's unfathomable that homeowners be asked to pay more taxes. In fact, the authors of this tax themselves recognize the City of Oakland is being impacted by the Global, National, State, and Regional recession, yet they want to ask you to pay more taxes as if the recession has not impacted your checkbook.

What Oakland needs is structural change, change that can be achieved without increasing taxes; Government needs to do more with less just like everyone else in this down economy.

Let's not resort to quick fixes on the backs of struggling homeowners and renters. Let's, demand implementation of systems that show efficient use of resources, measure workloads and ensure accountability.

We urge a NO Vote. This is another tax-grab without proof that our tax dollars are spent wisely or efficiently.

Ignacio De La Fuente - President Pro‐Tempore
Desley Brooks - Vice Mayor
Jill Broadhurst - East Bay Housing Association, Director of Community Affairs and Advocacy
Judith Ghidinelli - Oakland Homeowner
John Protopappas - Oakland Business Owner/Resident

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
Check the facts, then join us in voting YES on Measure I the 25-cent, temporary measure to restore services.

  • We're voting YES on Measure I because it restores essential services like full-day senior centers, street repair, public safety, library and Iiteracv programs, and park maintenance.
  • We're voting YES because it costs homeowners less than 25-cents per day, shares costs between landlords and tenants, assesses commercial properties based on square footage, and provides an exemption for low income families.
  • We're voting YES because it requires the City to submit to annual reviews by an independent authority to ensure accountability, and it expires in 5 years.
  • We're voting YES because it's part of the "Fair Share" budget, with all City employees contributing to retirement savings and taking cuts up to 10%.

This year's budget slashes bureaucracy and collapses departments while preserving as many frontline jobs as possible. Measure I means restoration of park maintenance, library and literacy programs, and full day activities at senior centers, plus other essential services.

Oakland is already doing more with less: the City has cut 25% from its general fund over the past five Years, eliminated 528 positions, and put major reforms in place.

We are a diverse coalition of people who love Oakland. We don't agree on everything, but we agree that this crisis demands a balanced approach, not a Tea-Party style, all-cuts approach.

Join us in Voting YES on Measure I to keep Oakland moving forward.

Laurence Reid - City Councilmember
Gordon "Don" Link - Past Chair Community Policing Advisory Board
Patricia Kernighan - City Councilmember
Allene Warren - Past Chair Beat 35Y NCPC
Donna Griggs‐Murphy - Chair, City of Oakland Commission on Aging


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