Why are only property owners taxed for measures that are supposed benefit population at large? I bet we’d see much less propositions of this sort passed if everyone had to chip-in
Excellent article Sean. The abuse of East Oakland must stop. East Oakland was once a great productive part of Oakland, it must be brought back. Vote No on Measure E parcel tax. Mindy Pechenuk, candidate for Oakland Mayor 2026
The poor people taxes continue. Here is a map of the locations of all of the new speed trap cameras targeting poor neighborhoods. They claim it's based on data and I call BS. People FLY on those mountain roads!
Missing from this article is the key fact that each of these “flat-rate parcel taxes” only exists because Oakland’s residents voted for them. A map illustrating how each part of the City voted for or against these recent taxes would be much more enlightening than tired homilies about long-past injustices.
I’m surprised that this article doesn’t explain specifically why parcel taxes are put before the voters instead of increases in the property tax. The first one just requires a majority vote, the latter requires a 2/3 vote to pass, a provision in Prop 13, which does get mentioned.
I’ll add that our family qualified for a low income tax rebate in 2023 when our income dipped below the threshold. Sweet! We got back close to $3000 rebated.
This was only by chance, digging through the city website, Berkeley’s in my case, and I was “what’s this” and was able to prove we qualified.
Folks should check that out
But go a dollar over the threshold and no rebate, another injustice.
Hi John, thank you for your comment. Per state law, parcel taxes typically require two-thirds voter approval to pass, not just a simple majority. https://ed100.org/lessons/parceltax
However, court rulings determined a few years ago that a "citizen-sponsored" initiative (as opposed to one placed on the ballot by a legislative body like city council) needs only a simply majority vote to pass, even if it is a special tax. https://archive.is/HFpA5
It's disappointing to see the evaluation of Measure E shift from the corruption of the Progressive-Public Employee Union machine to one of Race and Class warfare. Doing so only benefits the machine in its effort to extract maximum dollars from Oakland taxpayers while failing to deliver proper services. Saying it is not Progressive (i.e., let's soak The Rich even more) is a concession that Measure E is valid. It's not. It's another lie on top of all of the previous fraudulent measures to milk Oaklanders. We pay some of the highest taxes in the country. Enough.
Can you show the change in effective overall tax rate by neighborhood with and without these flat parcel taxes?
While a flat parcel tax is regressive on the new buyer, it would seem progressive on average considering rich white neighborhoods have very low overall effective tax rates given prop. 13.
In other words, you should the effective tax rate for parcel taxes by neighborhood, but you exclude ad valorem components. Can you put that back in and then ask how these parcel taxes would change that rate?
My theory is the parcel taxes disproportionately raise rates in richer whiter neighborhoods.
94603 Sobrante Park $251,166 $536,842 46.8% $2,512
94621 Elmhurst / East Oakland $226,013 $500,320 45.2% $2,260
Sources: Alameda County Assessor via Ownwell (assessed value, updated 2025-2026); Zillow Home Value Index (market value, early 2026). Base 1% tax = 1% of median assessed value per California Proposition 13; excludes voter-approved bonds, flat-rate parcel taxes, and Mello-Roos charges.
Why are only property owners taxed for measures that are supposed benefit population at large? I bet we’d see much less propositions of this sort passed if everyone had to chip-in
Important information and perspective.
Of course, don't wait for a response from the public employee unions driving the relentless tax increases you describe.
Instead.....crickets.
So much for their overriding ideological concern for poor and minority residents of Oakland.
Thank you for this, Sean. Read and sharing in all the places.
Fantastic, real reporting.
Excellent article Sean. The abuse of East Oakland must stop. East Oakland was once a great productive part of Oakland, it must be brought back. Vote No on Measure E parcel tax. Mindy Pechenuk, candidate for Oakland Mayor 2026
The poor people taxes continue. Here is a map of the locations of all of the new speed trap cameras targeting poor neighborhoods. They claim it's based on data and I call BS. People FLY on those mountain roads!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/AW53WV9iiPHP6CvZ8
Missing from this article is the key fact that each of these “flat-rate parcel taxes” only exists because Oakland’s residents voted for them. A map illustrating how each part of the City voted for or against these recent taxes would be much more enlightening than tired homilies about long-past injustices.
I’m surprised that this article doesn’t explain specifically why parcel taxes are put before the voters instead of increases in the property tax. The first one just requires a majority vote, the latter requires a 2/3 vote to pass, a provision in Prop 13, which does get mentioned.
I’ll add that our family qualified for a low income tax rebate in 2023 when our income dipped below the threshold. Sweet! We got back close to $3000 rebated.
This was only by chance, digging through the city website, Berkeley’s in my case, and I was “what’s this” and was able to prove we qualified.
Folks should check that out
But go a dollar over the threshold and no rebate, another injustice.
Hi John, thank you for your comment. Per state law, parcel taxes typically require two-thirds voter approval to pass, not just a simple majority. https://ed100.org/lessons/parceltax
However, court rulings determined a few years ago that a "citizen-sponsored" initiative (as opposed to one placed on the ballot by a legislative body like city council) needs only a simply majority vote to pass, even if it is a special tax. https://archive.is/HFpA5
This has led to jurisdictions like Oakland to turn to outside groups like public employee unions to sponsor new tax initiatives in order to get around the 2/3 threshold. https://www.oaklandreport.org/p/20260222-parcel-tax-union-payout
Thank you again for your comment; the discussion is appreciated.
Thank you for the correction. The rules keep changing
It's disappointing to see the evaluation of Measure E shift from the corruption of the Progressive-Public Employee Union machine to one of Race and Class warfare. Doing so only benefits the machine in its effort to extract maximum dollars from Oakland taxpayers while failing to deliver proper services. Saying it is not Progressive (i.e., let's soak The Rich even more) is a concession that Measure E is valid. It's not. It's another lie on top of all of the previous fraudulent measures to milk Oaklanders. We pay some of the highest taxes in the country. Enough.
Question,
Can you show the change in effective overall tax rate by neighborhood with and without these flat parcel taxes?
While a flat parcel tax is regressive on the new buyer, it would seem progressive on average considering rich white neighborhoods have very low overall effective tax rates given prop. 13.
In other words, you should the effective tax rate for parcel taxes by neighborhood, but you exclude ad valorem components. Can you put that back in and then ask how these parcel taxes would change that rate?
My theory is the parcel taxes disproportionately raise rates in richer whiter neighborhoods.
Hi David, thank you for your comment. Here's that math.
Median assessed value as a percentage of estimated median market value.
Summary:
48.0% - Rockridge (94618)
45.2% - Elmhurst / East Oakland (94621)
Full table:
ZIP / Neighborhood / Assessed Val. / Market Val. / % / Base 1% Tax
----- ---------------------------- -------------- ------------ --------------- -----------
94618 Rockridge $799,328 $1,664,750 48.0% $7,993
94611 Piedmont Ave / Montclair $775,441 $1,504,818 51.5% $7,754
94610 Grand Lake / Crocker $547,624 $1,298,903 42.2% $5,476
94602 Dimond / Oakmore $542,444 $1,082,522 50.1% $5,424
94609 Temescal $561,869 $1,018,872 55.2% $5,619
94619 Redwood Heights $509,300 $926,754 55.0% $5,093
94605 East Oakland Hills $417,859 $738,699 56.6% $4,179
94608 Longfellow / Bushrod $498,794 $712,551 70.0% $4,988
94606 San Antonio $362,171 $685,563 52.8% $3,622
94612 Downtown $471,300 $656,956 71.7% $4,713
94607 West Oakland $472,597 $636,214 74.3% $4,726
94601 Fruitvale $298,498 $626,146 47.7% $2,985
94603 Sobrante Park $251,166 $536,842 46.8% $2,512
94621 Elmhurst / East Oakland $226,013 $500,320 45.2% $2,260
Sources: Alameda County Assessor via Ownwell (assessed value, updated 2025-2026); Zillow Home Value Index (market value, early 2026). Base 1% tax = 1% of median assessed value per California Proposition 13; excludes voter-approved bonds, flat-rate parcel taxes, and Mello-Roos charges.