Voters were skeptical of a proposed parcel tax increase in Oakland that needed majority approval in Tuesday’s election but was well under that, according to the latest unofficial results.
Measure E proposed a new $192 annual parcel tax increase and required only a simple majority vote because it was placed on the ballot by a privately financed signature-gathering effort, but had just 45.9% of the vote in the latest results shared by Alameda County.
Supporters had said the measure was needed to fund basic services, but opponents painted it as a money grab from the city’s powerful union groups and noted Oakland’s taxes are already among the highest in the state.
Oakland voters in Tuesday’s election also considered Measure C, a one-year business tax waiver for certain small and newly opened businesses. The latest results showed the measure had 76.5% approval, well above the simple majority needed to pass.
Measure D in Oakland also appears headed for approval, with more than 72% of voters giving the thumbs up to the measure to make changes to how the city’s police and fire retirement system is managed.
