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Berkeley 2026 Tax Measures — Straw Poll

Which November 3, 2026 measures would you vote for?

This is an anonymous, non-binding straw poll to gauge neighborhood sentiment on the tax measures on Berkeley's November 3, 2026 ballot. Letters and summaries are from the City Attorney's impartial analyses and the Alameda County Registrar; Measures W (charter amendments) and X (rent ordinance) are on the same ballot but raise no taxes and are not polled here. No login required. No personal information collected. One vote per browser. See the calculator to estimate your personal tax impact, or the full breakdown to understand each levy.
Your Ballot — Vote Yes or No on Each Measure
Measure U — Infrastructure & Facilities Bond
$22.14 / $100k assessed value (40-yr average; peak ~$35 in 2040–41) · two-thirds vote
Up to $300M in general obligation bonds for emergency-response facilities, parks and recreation, accessibility, seismic and climate resiliency, and facility modernization. Placed by Council.
What the official summary says

Authorizes $300 million of general obligation bonds for public infrastructure and facilities. The City estimates average taxpayer cost of about $22.14 per $100,000 of assessed value over 40 years, generating about $15.2 million per year; the highest projected rate is about $35 per $100,000 beginning 2040–41. Requires a two-thirds majority. Source

Measure V — Berkeley Sales Tax Increase
+0.5% sales tax (city rate to 10.75%) · majority vote
General tax for the General Fund; the FY2027–28 budget assumes it passes and reverses 33 position cuts if it does. Starts April 1, 2027; no sunset. Placed by Council.
What the official summary says

Adopts the 2026 Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance, raising the sales tax in Berkeley by one-half of one percent to an aggregate 10.75%. A general tax; revenue goes to the General Fund for any municipal purpose. Effective April 1, 2027 until ended by the voters. The City estimates $9 to $10 million annually. Source

Measure Y — Arts Parcel Tax
$0.07 / sq ft of improvements, all property · 12 years from Jan 1, 2027 · majority vote
Special tax for an arts fund: 75% performing-arts organization grants, 10% arts capital projects, 5% individual artists, 5% festivals, 5% administration. Citizen initiative.
What the official summary says

Imposes a special parcel tax of $0.07 per square foot of improvements on all properties, with exemptions for low-income seniors, very-low-income households, tax-exempt religious or educational owners, 60%-affordable buildings, and transitional housing. The City estimates about $6.3 million in the first year and $84.8 million over its 12-year duration. Source

Measure Z — Public Bank Parcel Tax
$0.06 / sq ft residential, $0.09 / sq ft non-residential · 6 years from Jan 1, 2027, inflation-adjusted · majority vote
Special tax to capitalize a public bank for affordable housing, green energy and infrastructure, and small-business lending. Citizen initiative.
What the official summary says

Levies a special parcel tax of $0.06 per square foot of residential improvements and $0.09 per square foot of non-residential improvements to capitalize and support a public bank. The City estimates about $9.2 million in the first year and $58.3 million over six years. If a bank is not authorized by June 30, 2033, the fund may be used for direct loans instead. Source

Measure AA — Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax
2¢ per fluid ounce (replaces the current 1¢ general tax) · majority vote
Converts the soda tax to a special tax dedicated to public health, nutrition and drinking-water programs: at least 42.5% to community organizations or City departments, at least 42.5% to BUSD, up to 15% administration. Starts April 1, 2027; no sunset. Citizen initiative.
What the official summary says

Replaces Berkeley’s existing $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on sugar-sweetened beverage distribution with a $0.02 per fluid ounce special tax, estimated to raise about $2.2 million annually, an increase of about $1 million. Inflation-adjusted from 2028, capped at 5% per year. Source

Regional Transit Sales Tax (Connect Bay Area, SB 63)
+0.5% sales tax in Alameda County (1% in San Francisco) · 14 years · majority vote · county ballot letter not yet confirmed
Five-county measure funding BART, AC Transit, Caltrain, Muni, VTA and SamTrans; about $980M/yr regionwide. Stacks with Measure V: if both pass, Berkeley’s rate is 11.25%.
What the official summary says

To prevent major service cuts to BART and other transit … shall the measure enacting a 0.5% (Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara counties), and 1% (San Francisco) sales tax for 14 years generating approximately $980,000,000 annually, be adopted? Source

Not on the ballot — Annual Escalator on Existing Parcel Taxes
+4.95% on FY2027 rates (about $0.052 / sq ft combined on the five city special taxes) · set by Council each June, no public vote
Council raises the per-square-foot rates of the existing library, parks, fire (GG, FF 2020), paramedic and streets (FF 2024) taxes every year under authority already granted by voters. Included here so you can register a view on it; it is not a November measure.
What the official summary says

The FY2027 rate ordinances (8,013–8,025-N.S., adopted June 16 and 30, 2026) applied a 4.95% increase to the square-footage special taxes and 3.80% to the paramedic tax. Source

Community Results
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This is an informal, anonymous straw poll — not an official election. One vote per browser (uses localStorage). No personal data is collected or stored. Results are not statistically representative. For official election information, visit acvote.org.