Measure W UpdateJune 23, 2025
Measure W Overview
Passed by Alameda County voters in 2020
Ten-year, one-half percent countywide general sales tax Can fund any county service
Ballot language specified housing and homelessness services Tied up in litigation but cleared in April 2025; tax was collected despite litigation Funding availability
More than $650 million saved for one-time expenditures
~$190 million per year for six years can be allocated for ongoing services
December 17, 2024, Board Action: Phase 1
April 1, 2025, Board Discussion: Phase 1 Funding Details Category
Amount
Notes
Staffing and Infrastructure
Up to $4.5M
New FTE proposed in Phase 1
Key positions to build critical infrastructure
Shelter and Encampment Resolution
$40M
Launch up to 250 new interim beds for encampment resolution, including medically frail support Create prevention hub and flexible housing subsidy pool to make units affordable to extremely low-income homeless households Shelter and Housing Acquisition Fund
$350M
Purchase, lease, and renovate interim and permanent housing sites and health care clinic space
April 1, 2025, Board Feedback
Supervisors Fortunato Bas and Marquez supported moving forward with plan now Supervisors Miley, Haubert, and Tam delayed spending until July after the County adopts a balanced budget and asked staff to create funding principles and work with each department to identify needs BOS directed County Administration to work with and meet with the most impacted cities – Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, and Hayward
Key Decision Points & Advocacy Opportunities