2025 Ballot Measures and
Possible City Positions
OCTOBER 6, 2025 PaloAlto.gov
Presenters:
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Christine Prior, Assistant City Clerk
1 • Purpose:
o Provide information to Palo Alto voters
o Provide a forum for City Council discussion and consideration of possible positions on behalf of the City
• Considerations for Potential Positions:
o Staff report notes when ballot measures align with City Council-approved 2025 Legislative Guidelines
o Regardless of alignment with Legislative Guidelines, the City Council may choose whether to take positions
PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
2 • On the Ballot:
• 1 statewide proposition (Proposition 50) and
• 1 local ballot measure (Santa Clara County Measure A) • Key Dates and General Information:
• October 6 – County begins mailing ballots
• October 20 – Last day to register to vote
• November 4 – Election Day
• Find Vote Center locations, Ballot Drop Box locations, Information Guides and more at https://vote.santaclaracounty.gov/
NOVEMBER 4, 2025 ELECTION
3 • Statewide proposition put on the ballot by the State Legislature • Ballot Language: Authorizes Temporary Changes to Congressional District Maps in Response to Texas’ Partisan Redistricting. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Requires temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. Directs independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting congressional district maps in 2031. Establishes policy supporting nonpartisan redistricting commission nationwide. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs to counties of up to a few million dollars statewide to update election materials to reflect new congressional district maps.
• Relevant Palo Alto Legislative Guideline: None related to redistricting PROPOSITION 50 – STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
4 • Santa Clara County measure put on the ballot by the County Board of Supervisors • Ballot Language: To help our community address severe federal cuts enacted by the President and Congress; support critical local services such as trauma, emergency room, mental health, and public safety; and reduce the risk of hospital closures at Santa Clara Valley Healthcare and other service cuts – shall the County of Santa Clara adopt a five-eights cent (0.625%) general sales tax for 5 years, providing $330 million annually that is not available to the federal government and is subject to independent audits/oversight?
• Relevant Palo Alto Legislative Guideline: None related to administration of healthcare services
MEASURE A – SANTA CLARA COUNTY
5 Staff recommends that the City Council review State and Local ballot measures presented to Palo Alto voters at the November 4, 2025 election (Prop 50 and Measure A), and consider adoption of positions (if desired) by the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION
CHANTAL COTTON GAINES
Deputy City Manager
[email protected]
(650) 329-2572
CHRISTINE PRIOR
Assistant City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 329-2159