Because of a state mandated ceiling on city expenditures, this ballot measure comes before the voters every four years for approval. It must pass or city services will be sharply curtailed. This measure does not raise taxes.
During the past decade, the city’s population has grown by more than 11 percent. We are providing essential services for our expanding population with a smaller city staff. Our citizens want a wide variety of city services and have voted by a two-thirds margin to fund those services during the past three decades. Those tax measures included funding for City libraries (1988), streets (2012), parks (1997), Emergency Medical Services (1997), Emergency Services for Severely Disabled Persons (1998), and keeping fire stations open and improving emergency medical response and disaster preparedness (2008).
This measure will allow City of Berkeley Departments to continue to provide these important, tax-supported community services to our growing population.
If the measure does not pass, the City will lose tens of millions of dollars in already approved tax revenue, forcing dramatic reductions in fire safety, disaster preparedness, paramedic services, library services, park maintenance, services for the physically disabled and landscaping. These services impact the quality of life throughout our city.
This measure was passed unanimously by the City Council. We urge your YES vote.
—Tom Bates, Berkeley Mayor
—Linda Maio, Vice Mayor
—Julie Holcomb, President, Board of Library Trustees, Berkeley Public Library
—Dmitri Belser, Executive Director, Center for Accessible Technology
— Alameda County Registrar of Voters