Four members of Oakland\u2019s City Council gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza for a news conference on Thursday, introducing amendments to Mayor Barbara Lee\u2019s budget in the wake of the loss of Measure E, a proposed parcel tax increase.<\/p>\n
If passed, Measure E would have raised $34 million yearly tax revenue, slated to fund emergency services, crime prevention, and address illegal dumping, among other things. The measure was voted down in the June 2 primary election, with the latest results showing its 45.7% approval falling short of the majority vote needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeasure [E\u2019s loss] was a rebuke of the status quo at City Hall,\u201d said Kevin Jenkins, City Council president and District 6 councilmember. \u201cIt was a telling sign that voters want us to do more with their precious tax dollars that we already have, and this budget represents that.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to District 4 Councilmember Janani Ramachandran, these proposed amendments represent \u201ccreative solutions\u201d for $5 million in one-time capital improvements, originally proposed under Measure E funding, such as new fire engines, dump trucks, and restoring emergency shelter beds.<\/p>\n
In addition to funding some Measure E proposals, the amendments will also provide one-time payments toward public safety services, affordable housing, a solar streetlight program, arts funding, and park investments, among other things.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Nobody\u2019s Crazy Budget\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cFocusing on the essential services and this was regardless of the outcome of Measure E,\u201d said Rowena Brown, Oakland\u2019s at-large councilmember. \u201cBy listening closely to employees, residents, and my council colleagues, my focus was entirely on turning that direct community feedback into funded priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funding for these amendments will come from drawdowns of multiple funds, including the city\u2019s general fund, transit fund, Oakland\u2019s state gas tax allocation, and other voter-approved tax measures such as the Measure BB sales tax fund and the Measure U bond fund, according to the text of the amendments.<\/p>\n
District 1 Councilmember Zac Unger highlighted that the proposals will not add any additional full-time employees or provide current city employees with a raise. However, Unger said that he remains focused on figuring out a way to provide city employees with compensation in line with other local municipalities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stood here a year ago and talked about the Nobody\u2019s Happy Budget, I am happy to say today that the council budget team is presenting you with a Nobody\u2019s Crazy Budget,\u201d said Unger. \u201cWe\u2019re going to pass this budget, but that does not mean we are done.\u201d<\/p>\n
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