New taxes: Oakland public employee unions collecting signatures for a new parcel tax

The city council is already counting the money — they added $40 million in hoped-for income to the city budget, assuming that voters will approve the new tax.

Oakland public employee unions are collecting signatures for a new parcel tax. The city council is already counting the money. (Image source: Oakland Report / Creative Commons)

Have you noticed the signature-gatherers collecting signatures for a new parcel tax in Oakland? They are funded primarily by public employee unions that appear to be helping the city to put a new tax on the ballot.¹

Proposed ballot measure: Oakland Public Safety, Cleanliness Accountability Act of 2026

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Oakland Safety/ Cleanliness Measure. Shall the measure to prevent longer 911 response times; keep fire stations open; prevent cuts to fire protection, police patrols, crime prevention/ investigation; address homelessness, dumping, litter/trash by levying a parcel tax of $192 on single-family and other parcels as specified, resulting in lower taxes for most homeowners, with low-income exceptions, including seniors, raising approximately $34,000,000 annually for 9 years, public disclosure, citizen oversight, independent audits be adopted?

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The city council is already counting the money. They added $40 million in hoped-for income to the city budget, assuming that voters will approve the new tax.

That is something like taking a second mortgage on your home based on income from a new job that you don't have and haven't even applied for yet.

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Oakland Report published a story a few months back that breaks down how the city council thinks about new taxes on Oaklanders. The article reports on a council committee meeting when they perused a menu of possible new taxes and offered their ideas for new ways to extract more money from residents and businesses.

Absent from the council members' discussion was any contemplation of how the city came to need more money in the first place, nor why the many, many other taxes they already collect are not sufficient for the city to deliver basic services like public safety and clean streets.

Form 460 campaign finance disclosure: Oaklanders For A Safe, Clean & Healthy City, Sponsored By Labor Organizations

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California Form 460. “Recipient Committee Campaign Statement.” Submitted by Oaklanders for a Safe, Clean & Healthy City, Sponsored by Labor Organizations, Feb. 2, 2026.

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1. California Form 460. “Recipient Committee Campaign Statement.” Oaklanders For A Safe, Clean & Healthy City, Sponsored By Labor Organizations. Feb. 2, 2026. https://public.netfile.com/Pub2/RequestPDF.aspx?id=Sy9QR0VYY29ha2tqUnIwTVFMY3JMQT09&aid=COAK