220-7743
City of Hercules
Highlights of Winter 2025
Local Funding Measure Survey
2 Summary of Results
• Hercules respondents value their local quality of life and no longer believe the City suffers from mismanagement, a significant finding. • Summary of measure assessments:
▪ A one cent, general purpose sales tax measure requiring a simple majority has a high- water mark of 62%.
▪ A 2/3s requirement bond only garners 46% support and therefore is not viable.
▪ The Charter/Real Property Transfer measures are not viable, with a combined average of only 26% support.
3 Survey Methodology
(Note: Not All Results Will Sum to 100% Due to Rounding) Dates November 16 – 24, 2025
Survey Type Dual-mode Voter Survey
Research Population Likely November 2026 Voters in the City of Hercules Total Interviews 421
Margin of Sampling Error (Full Sample) ±4.9% at the 95% Confidence Level (Half Sample) ±6.9% at the 95% Confidence Level
Contact Methods
Data Collection Modes
Survey Tracking 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2022
Languages English and Spanish
Text
Invitations
Telephone
Calls
Email
Invitations
Telephone
Interviews
Online
Interviews
4 Perceptions of Life in Hercules
5 Right
Direction
51%
Wrong
Track
20%
Don't
Know
29%
One-half of voters say Hercules is headed in the right direction, with only 20% wrong track.
Would you say things in Hercules are headed in the right direction, or do you feel they are off on the wrong track?
6 Please consider the following issues that some people suggest are problems facing Hercules. Please indicate whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or a not too serious problem for residents of Hercules. *Split Sample 20%
23%
20%
11%
17%
11%
10%
10%
14%
11%
13%
10%
11%
5%
6%
31%
26%
19%
24%
16%
21%
20%
20%
14%
17%
13%
15%
14%
17%
10%
27%
30%
31%
28%
18%
38%
27%
26%
23%
33%
26%
23%
12%
35%
35%
19%
19%
19%
33%
24%
18%
13%
21%
17%
37%
17%
49%
47%
37%
44%
4%
11%
5%
26%
12%
31%
22%
33%
30%
15%
5%
4%
The cost of housing
The cost of living
The amount people pay in local taxes
Illegal dumping and litter
A lack of transparency in city government
The condition of the local economy
The City’s long-term financial stability
*Cuts to city services
Waste and inefficiency in city government
Potholes and deteriorating streets
*Lack of federal and state funding to maintain quality of life services Homelessness
Drinking water safety and quality
Old and deteriorating parks
Crime in general
Extremely Serious Problem Very Serious Problem Somewhat Serious Problem Not Too Serious Problem Don’t Know The cost of housing and the cost of living
are seen as the City’s greatest challenges.
Extremely/Very
Serious Problem
51%
50%
39%
34%
33%
32%
30%
30%
28%
28%
27%
26%
25%
22%
16%
7 10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Feb/March
2012
Feb
2013
March/April
2015
Jan
2022
Dec
2025
Waste and inefficiency in city government
A lack of transparency in city government
(Extremely/Very Serious Problem)
Please consider the following issues that some people suggest are problems facing Hercules. Please indicate whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or a not too serious problem for residents of Hercules. Not Part of Split Sample Concerns about the City’s administration
have declined significantly from 2013.
8 10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Feb/March
2012
Feb
2013
March/April
2015
Jan
2022
Dec
2025
Crime in general
Potholes and deteriorating streets
(Extremely/Very Serious Problem)
Please consider the following issues that some people suggest are problems facing Hercules. Please indicate whether you think it is an extremely serious problem, a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, or a not too serious problem for residents of Hercules. Not Part of Split Sample For the first time in years, concerns about potholes have declined; concerns about crime are also at a low point. 9 Not Part of Split Sample
33%
46%
32%
12%
14%
11%
5%
41%
28%
34%
38%
33%
25%
17%
5%
10%
8%
9%
39%
37%
18%
15%
16%
24%
26%
19%
29%
12%
10%
11%
5%
6%
7%
6%
4%
8%
Local small business owners
Hercules Community and Library Services Commission
^Hercules City Police Department
^Hercules City government
^Hercules City Council
Local senior advocates
Hercules Financial Advisory Commission
Very Favorable Somewhat Favorable Never Heard of Heard of/No Opinion Somewhat Unfavorable Very Unfavorable Total
Favorable
Total
Unfavorable
74% 3%
73% 2%
66% 17%
51% 17%
47% 18%
35% 7%
22% 13%
Roughly half of voters view their City government favorably; local small businesses, the Community/Library Commission, and Police Department are viewed particularly favorably.
Next, here are some names of people and organizations active in public life. For each one, please indicate whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of that person or organization. 10 *Worded Slightly Different in Previous Years
7%
11%
7%
4%
8%
47%
45%
45%
40%
27%
24%
25%
33%
33%
43%
50%
37%
12%
6%
8%
10%
13%
26%
December 2025
May/June 2022
January 2022
March/April 2015
February 2013
February/March 2012
Excellent Pretty Good *Only Fair Poor Excellent/
Good
54%
56%
52%
41%
31%
32%
A majority approves of the City’s job in
providing services to its residents.
Next, how would you rate the overall job being done by the current Hercules city government in providing services to the City’s residents? Would you say the City is doing an excellent job, a good job, an only fair job, or a poor job at providing services to City resident? 11 Initial Reactions to a
Potential Local Sales Tax Measure
12 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Hercules Public Safety/Local Services Protection Measure.
Shall the measure providing Hercules with locally controlled funding to protect/maintain general city services and infrastructure, such as neighborhood police patrols; fast 911 response; park safety/cleanliness; repairing deteriorating streets/potholes; retaining/attracting local businesses; and maintaining Hercules’s financial stability by establishing a one-cent (1%) sales tax generating approximately $4,000,000 annually until ended by voters; requiring audits, public disclosure, and funds only for Hercules, be adopted?
Conceptual Sales Tax Measure Ballot Language
General-Purpose; 50% Vote Threshold-Ballot Question
Reviewed and Approved by City Attorney
13 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? 20%
29%
7%
1%
7%
20%
15%
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
Yes
57%
Total
No
28%
The measure garners 57% support on the first test for a simple majority requirement measure.
14 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Majority support carries across all ethnic demographics.
Initial Vote by Race/Ethnicity
58%
50%
59%
54%
57%
27%
27%
28%
24%
27%
Whites
Latinos
African Americans
Filipinos
All Voters of Color
Total Yes Total No Difference
+31%
+23%
+31%
+30%
+30%
15 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Majority support also carries across education levels.
Initial Vote by Education
61%
58%
55%
63%
24%
25%
27%
29%
High/Vocational School Educated
Associate Degree/Some College Education
Four-Year College Graduates
Post-Graduate Educated
Total Yes Total No Difference
+37%
+33%
+28%
+34%
16 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Seven in ten renters support the measure
and homeowners also exceed majority support.
Initial Vote by Household Income & Residence
65%
58%
62%
54%
69%
20%
28%
27%
30%
19%
<$100,00
$100,001-$150,000
$150,001+
Homeowners
Renters
Total Yes Total No Difference
+45%
+30%
+35%
+24%
+50%
17 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? 57%
62%
57%
28% 25%
30%
15% 14% 13%
Initial
Vote
After Supportive
Statements
After Supportive &
Critical Statements
Total Yes
Total No
Undecided
After an exchange of supportive and critical arguments, support remained consistent.
18 Investment Priorities
19 54%
56%
53%
49%
57%
41%
44%
42%
47%
43%
40%
33%
34%
39%
29%
45%
39%
39%
32%
34%
4%
6%
8%
8%
11%
11%
11%
16%
14%
7%
4%
14%
6%
4%
Maintaining long-term financial stability
^Maintaining fiscal accountability
^Meeting water quality health standards
Retaining and attracting local businesses
^Maintaining fast 911 response times
Maintaining the City’s financial stability
Preventing funds being taken by Sacramento
Keeping public areas and parks safe and clean
^Keeping funds local
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know ^Not Part of Split Sample
First, please consider some potential elements of this measure, including ways in which funds it generates could be spent.
For each one, please indicate how important each one is to you personally, regardless of how you feel about the measure:
either extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important.
Voters strongly prioritize the funds going towards
maintaining long-term financial stability and fiscal accountability.
Extremely/Very
Important
93%
89%
88%
88%
87%
86%
83%
81%
79%
77%Completing the bus, train, and ferry service
planned for the Hercules Waterfront
20 33%
28%
26%
29%
27%
41%
25%
46%
34%
20%
43%
50%
50%
45%
47%
31%
48%
25%
38%
50%
16%
12%
17%
15%
16%
21%
25%
18%
19%
26%
8%
4%
7%
8%
6%
8%
7%
4%
4%
4%
Addressing federal budget cuts impacting city services
^Protecting and maintaining city services
Maintaining senior programs
Attracting and retaining experienced police officers
Maintaining parks and outdoor spaces
Extremely Important Very Important Somewhat Important Not Too Important Don't Know First, please consider some potential elements of this measure, including ways in which funds it generates could be spent. For each one, please indicate how important each one is to you personally, regardless of how you feel about the measure: either extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not too important. ^Not Part of Split Sample A strong majority also prioritizes addressing federal budget cuts, repairing streets and potholes, and protecting and maintaining city services.
Extremely/Very
Important
77%
77%
77%
74%
74%
73%
73%
71%
71%
70%
Repairing potholes and deteriorating neighborhood streets ^Retaining highly skilled and experienced city employees Reducing traffic congestion by completing the bus, train, and ferry service planned for the Hercules Waterfront
Preventing neighborhood streets from deteriorating further Maintaining the number of police officers patrolling
neighborhood streets
21 First, please consider the following statements from people who may support this potential measure. For each one, please indicate whether you find it very convincing, somewhat convincing, or not convincing as a reason to support the measure. *Split Sample
38%
35%
29%
28%
28%
28%
27%
25%
43%
34%
44%
42%
42%
34%
43%
43%
81%
69%
73%
70%
70%
63%
69%
68%
*Maintain Quality of Life
Local Control
*Improve Quality of Life
Public Safety
Business Support
Streets
Maintain Progress
Parks
Very Convincing Somewhat Convincing
Maintaining overall quality of life in Hercules and local control resonated the most intensely with voters.
22 Reactions to Additional
Funding Measures
23 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Hercules Public Infrastructure Repair Bond. Shall the measure providing Hercules funding to address earthquake safety, old wiring, plumbing, heating/cooling systems, leaky roofs, and access for disabled persons in public building/facilities; replace unsafe playground equipment; repair deteriorating streets; access matching funds, by issuing $44,000,000 in bonds with average annual levies of $30 per $100,000 of assessed value, generating approximately $1,500,000 annually while bonds are outstanding, requiring public disclosure, citizen oversight, and audits, be adopted? Hypothetical Infrastructure Bond Measure Ballot Language 67% Vote Threshold Requirement
24 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? 13%
22%
11%
5%
4%
28%
17%
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
Yes
46%
Total
No
38%
A 2/3’s requirement infrastructure bond is not viable.
Infrastructure Bond Measure Vote
25 Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample (ASK SPLIT SAMPLE A ONLY – CHARTER & RPTT)
City of Hercules City Charter/Local Control Measure. To expand locally controlled funding for general city services, such as police patrols, 911 response, park safety/ cleanliness, and street repairs, shall a measure be adopted to: 1) establish Hercules as a Charter City and 2) enact adjustment of its real property transfer tax — paid only by buyers/ sellers of property upon sale — to 4%, generating approximately $850,000 annually until ended by voters, without changing other City powers? (ASK SPLIT SAMPLE B ONLY – CHARTER ONLY)
City of Hercules City Charter/Local Control Measure. Shall a measure be adopted to establish Hercules as a Charter City with the limited ability to adopt a local real property transfer tax — only if approved by voters in a future election — without changing the City Council’s other powers and continuing city governance limitations as set forth by State general law? Conceptual Property Transfer Tax Measure Ballot Language Simple Majority Vote Threshold
26 6%
9%
5%
12%
17%
21%
31%
Q14. Do you think you would vote yes or no on this measure? Split Sample 8%
19%
6%
2%
10%
32%
23%
Charter & RPTT Charter Only
Definitely yes
Probably yes
Undecided, lean yes
Undecided, lean no
Probably no
Definitely no
Undecided
Total
No
44%
Total
Yes
33%
Total
No
49%
Total
Yes
20%
A property transfer tax is not viable.
Property Transfer Tax Vote
Curt Below Suzanne Brewster
[email protected] [email protected]
The Lew Edwards Group
[email protected]