You might still be digesting your Thanksgiving leftovers, but have you started to think about next year’s local elections?
Some candidates and interest groups have.
Yesterday, Pamela Price — yes, the recently recalled district attorney — announced she’s running for office again. And today, SEIU Local 1021, the labor union representing roughly 2,000 city workers, reported setting aside a massive amount of money to support a city parcel tax measure that isn’t yet guaranteed a spot on a ballot next year.
Oakland officials are strongly considering placing a new tax measure on the June primary ballot to make up for a $40 million shortfall. The idea dates back to the budget proposed by then-Interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins earlier this year and approved by the City Council in the spring.
According to city calculations, this entire missing amount could be raised by boosting taxes on property owners by $150 to $220 a year, depending on the type of property. In April, Oakland voters also approved a sales tax increase to help tackle the city’s deficit.
But asking property owners — who already pay other taxes for public safety, libraries, and more — to raise their taxes again could be a political risk.
The City Council has discussed a number of other options, including combining a parcel tax with other ways to raise revenue.
Even without the measure finalized or named, the SEIU 1021 committee, called Oaklanders for a Safe, Clean and Healthy City, made the $200,000 contribution in support of it.
A spokesperson for the union didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Members of the labor union stand to lose big when Oakland faces financial strife. The administration initially considered making 100 layoffs this year, though ended up cutting only vacant jobs in the final budget. SEIU 1021 and three other city unions reached contract agreements with Oakland in September.
The City Council is considering a number of other ballot measures for 2026, including one that would reform the city charter to change the roles of mayor and councilmembers; a measure to give temporary tax breaks to small and new businesses; and one that would make small changes to a police and fire pension fund.
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