Oakland, California, Bond Issue, Measure KK (November 2016)
| Measure KK: Oakland Bond Issue |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| City bonds |
| Related articles |
| City bonds on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California Alameda County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
| Oakland, California |
A bond issue measure was on the ballot for Oakland voters in Alameda County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $600,000,000 in bonds for infrastructure maintenance. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $600,000,000 in bonds for infrastructure maintenance. |
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure KK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 139,450 | 82.11% | ||
| No | 30,390 | 17.89% | ||
- Election results from Alameda County Registrar of Voters
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
To improve public safety and invest in neighborhoods throughout Oakland by re-paving streets to remove potholes, rebuilding cracked and deteriorating sidewalks, funding bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, funding affordable housing for Oaklanders, and providing funds for facility improvements, such as, neighborhood recreation centers, playgrounds, and libraries, shall the City of Oakland issue $600 million in bonds, subject to independent citizen oversight and regular audits?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Oakland City Attorney:
| “ |
Measure KK submits to the voters the question of whether to authorize the City to issue up to $600 million in general obligation bonds to finance City infrastructure projects and affordable housing. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds could be used only to pay for the projects described in the measure and certain costs associated with issuing the bonds. The City would impose an annual ad valorem tax to pay the principal and interest due on the bonds. “Ad valorem” means according to value. An ad valorem tax based on the value of the real property and improvements would be levied on all taxable property within the City. When the bonds are repaid, the annual tax will terminate. California law authorizes cities to issue general obligation bonds to finance acquisition or improvement of real property subject to certain limitations. The Tax Rate Statement, included in the ballot materials, reflects the City’s current estimate of the additional ad valorem property tax levy that would be required to repay the bonds. The Tax Rate Statement is an estimate based on currently available data and projections. The actual tax levied could be more or less than the City’s estimate. The measure requires the following:
The bond proceeds would finance:
Housing Bond Law. The projects financed by the bonds would be completed as needed according to City Council established priorities as set forth in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan and considering factors including social and geographic equity, improvements to existing core capital assets, impacts on existing operations and maintenance costs, and effects on energy consumption, resiliency and mobility. Before each bond issue, the City Council would identify the specific projects to be financed. This measure would authorize the City to use bond proceeds to develop, construct and acquire up to 2000 rental housing units for low-income households pursuant to Article 34 of the California Constitution. Article 34 requires voter approval for the development, acquisition or construction of “low-rent” housing projects. A vote of “yes” by two-thirds (2/3) of votes cast is required to approve the issuance of $600 million in bonds and impose ad valorem taxes necessary to pay the bonds. [2] |
” |
| —Oakland City Attorney[3] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]
- Libby Schaaf, Oakland Mayor
- Annie Campbell-Washington, Oakland Vice-Mayor
- Abel Guillén, Oakland City Councilmember
- Andreas Cluver, Secretary-Treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County
- Frank Kenya Wheeler, Transport Oakland Director
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
Rental rates in Oakland have increased 34% since 2011 and the median housing price has doubled since 2010. Oakland is facing a housing affordability crisis. We’ve already seen too many Bay Area Communities become unaffordable for middle and low-income residents. We won’t let that happen here in Oakland. That’s why we support Oakland Measure KK. This measure takes a major step toward keeping Oakland, Oakland. It will allow us to protect Oaklanders all across the city from being forced to move out of affordable housing so we can keep long-term residents here in our community. Today, average Oaklanders are spending hundreds of dollars every year on flat tires and car repairs as a result of potholes and bad roads. Measure KK will invest in fixing our crumbling infrastructure so it’s safer and easier to drive, walk, and bike around our beautiful city. The measure will improve quality of life citywide by re-paving streets, rebuilding cracked and deteriorating sidewalks, and improving bicycle and pedestrian safety. It will also repair and improve parks, libraries, and public safety facilities. The Measure’s equity requirement will ensure improvements are distributed fairly throughout the city-especially in communities that need them the most. Measure KK will allow us to invest in neighborhoods throughout Oakland, protect low-income families from being displaced, and improve the infrastructure that makes Oakland a great place to live and raise a family. The projects will be selected though a public budgeting process. A Citizen Oversight Committee will independently audit the spending from this measure to make sure it is spent as promised. Join us by voting YES on Measure KK. Let’s come together to invest in a better quality of life for all Oaklanders.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Jill Broadhurst, Executive Director, East Bay Rental Housing Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
Property owners beware! If the bond measure passes you will pay $70 per $100,000 of your property value and it is guaranteed to go up every year for 30 years. If you own a $500,000 home that amounts to $350 for the first year--on top of all the other assessments the city collects from you. The ballot language states that “proceeds of the bond can be used to pay or reimburse the City for the costs of city staff when they are performing work on or necessary and incidental to the bond projects.” What is your opinion of how well the city manages our dollars? The language further states that bond proceeds can be designated as loans, grants, other disbursements to qualified individuals, non-profit business entities, corporations, partnerships, associations and government agencies-giving City officials carte blanche to take care of their friends and supporters. Whatever isn’t spent in 10 years can be reallocated to any one of these large buckets with a simple council resolution. We said yes to police yet the crime rate is still too high. We said yes to our schools, more then once, only to reluctantly consider private options. We said yes to our libraries only to have them struggle with staff and hours. We were forced to pay higher garbage rates to only see dumping continue with no consequence. When will things change? We need to wake up. We want our diverse city to function. We want our government to act responsibly and stop looking at our community as a cash cow. We need city hall to take into account how expensive it is to live here and stop asking for more money. Force City Council to make the hard and real choices and live within a budget. Vote NO. [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Oakland, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oakland City bonds. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Alameda County, "November 8, 2016 General Election Local Measures," accessed October 12, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Alameda County, "Measure KK," accessed October 30, 2016
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