APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
___________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY MAYOR BARBARA LEE
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF PROPOSITION 43, WHICH, IF
PASSED BY VOTERS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026, WOULD AMEND THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION TO
INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS NEEDED TO APPROVE
LOCAL SPECIAL TAXES FROM A MAJORITY TO TWO-THIRDS
WHEREAS, communities across California have been coming together to pass local ballot measures to provide critical funding for fire and wildfire prevention, local roads, libraries and parks as well as housing and alleviating homelessness; and WHEREAS, Proposition 43 on the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot, limits voters’ ability to raise revenues to fund local services; and
WHEREAS, beginning January 1, 2027, Proposition 43 would raise the percentage of votes needed to approve any new, increased, or extended local special taxes proposed by the voters; and
WHEREAS, under Proposition 43, when voters place measures on the ballot to fund specific local services, opponents would only need one-third (33.4%) of the vote to block it; and WHEREAS, if Proposition 43 had been the law, California communities would not have been able to raise nearly $3 billion in revenue every year that funds firefighters and 911 response, childcare, homelessness solutions, street repairs, parks and libraries; and WHEREAS, Proposition 43 does not cut taxes. It limits local voters’ power to raise revenue to fund local services; and
WHEREAS, the measure is opposed by a broad coalition of local governments, including the League of California Cities, nurses, teachers and school employees, firefighters, and law enforcement; now, therefore, be it
2 RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council opposes Proposition 43 on the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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