Alameda California Votes On Half Cent Sales Tax In June

On June 5, Alameda, California voters “…will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would raise the city’s sales tax by half a cent for the next 30 years to fund improvements to public safety and cultural facilities.”

The measure, called Measure C, is intended to increase the sales tax from 8.75 percent to 9.25 percent in order to:

• Modernize responses to 911 emergency calls
• Replace a condemned fire station
• Repair three aging fire stations
• Create a citywide emergency operations center
• Replace outdated police and fire vehicles

In addition to the community safety improvements, the revenue is intended to help pay for:

• Rebuilding Carnegie Library
• Renovating the city swim center
• Constructing an all-weather lighted sports field

FOR

KTVU.com reports that firefighters, policeman, swimming pool advocates, Little League and Pop Warner supporters are all proponents of Measure C.

AGAINST

Opponents argue that the sales tax increase would mean “…the city would join Union City in having the highest sales tax in Alameda County.” Alameda activist David Howard said, “It would be bad for local businesses because people would shop outside of Alameda.”

AND THAT'S NOT ALL

The sales tax hike measure, Measure C, is not the only measure on the ballot in June. The voters are expected to decide on measure that affect the Peralta Community College District, the Dublin Unified School District, the Hayward Unified School District and the New Haven Unified School District.