Contra Costa County Measures

“Unless we act, El Cerrito will be facing an across-the-board 10% cut to essential city services, programs, and staff. Your Measure G Yes-vote simply continues local funds for local needs — extending existing voter-approved funding without raising taxes to maintain the services we need, while ensuring that no funds can be taken by the state. Yes on G keeps El Cerrito Safe!”

“Approving this tax now is not urgent. Current Measure R won’t expire until March 31, 2027. With the current sales tax rate of 10.25%, El Cerrito has the highest rate in Contra Costa and is in the top ten statewide. In spite of this excess revenue, city leaders have not effectively managed the city’s finances. This is why the state auditor designated El Cerrito a high-risk local government.”

“Measure H is vital to preserving Lafayette’s exceptional quality of life by maintaining essential city services that keep our community thriving. Measure H maintains police staffing levels, keeps roads in good shape, preserves senior services, and sustains our high quality of life. With robust safeguards in place, it ensures that our funds are spent responsibly.”

“The city … entered Fiscal Year 2025 with a general fund balance of over $16.5 million, equal to 88% of annual general fund expenditures. This is well above the Government Finance Officers Association’s recommendation of a 17% general fund balance. Meanwhile, executive compensation in Lafayette is quite high for such a small municipality. City Manager Niroop Srivatsa received $325,519 in wages during 2023, while five other employees each collected over $200,000.”

“Stop cuts to the services we all rely on and fix our roads — vote Yes on I! Voting Yes on I creates a reliable source of funding to make Pinole’s roads safer. Measure I generates funding to maintain neighborhood police patrols, continue investments in crime prevention programs, and maintain police 911 response times at a time when other parts of the Bay Area are struggling with rising crime.”

“The Pinole City Council wants to raise your sales tax to 10.25% which would make Pinole the highest tax city in Contra Costa County, tied with El Cerrito. The local sales tax would be 1.5% higher than in El Sobrante and other unincorporated neighborhoods nearby, which is bad for local businesses. Rather than tax residents more, city government should look to trim some of its expenses.”

“Measure J gives Richmond voters a chance to see clear distinctions between candidates on important issues by putting candidates head-to-head in a runoff election — guaranteeing the winner has the majority support of voters. It will mean better representation for Richmond, and an end to Richmond politicians getting elected with less than a true majority of the vote.”

“This ballot measure is a power grab. It is intended to disenfranchise poor voters of color and benefit the biggest polluters in Northern California. Adding a costly second election will not solve Richmond’s problems. It will create a system that benefits the rich and powerful.”

“Measure L will put in place Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) to ensure that majority winners are decided in a single election and that all our voices are heard … Having one election in November when more voters are at the polls maximizes voter turnout. Deciding elections in a separate low-turnout primary election would reduce turnout by 20% to 40%. Many fewer people would have a chance to decide their representatives.”

“Measure L is an attempt to institute Oakland-style Instant Runoff Voting in Richmond. It’s a failed system that will enable local politicians to keep getting elected with less than 50% of ballots cast. Rather than a one-person one-vote system which can easily be audited, Oakland-style Instant Runoff Voting is overly complicated for voters and uses closed systems where accurate vote tabulation is difficult to monitor and audit.”

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“Your Yes vote on Measure N will also safeguard the high quality of life and well-being of our community. Without Measure N funds, $16 million annually, the city of San Ramon may need to cut essential city services that contribute to our high quality of life such as increased crime prevention and the upkeep of our public spaces.”

“At a time of severe economic uncertainty, extremely high living costs, and multiple tax measures on this same ballot, San Ramon citizens deserve more candor … Measure N is not a “one-cent sales tax,” as characterized in the ballot question. It’s a 1% addition to an already very high 8.75% existing sales tax rate. Measure N would make our rate 9.75%.”

“High-quality schools increase student achievement, improve property values and neighborhood safety, and prepare children for productive futures. However, because facilities in the Martinez Unified School District are aging, our children’s quality education is at risk. We must modernize our facilities to provide students with the proper environment to succeed.”

“The voters have been generous to the district in the past, having just approved a parcel tax extension this March as well as previous bond measures. The voters must be understandably fatigued. As of June 30, 2024, Martinez Unified still had $198 million outstanding from previously issued bonds. That’s a big debt load for a district with Fall 2022 Census Day enrollment of just 3772 pupils — down 9.4% from Fall 2018.”

“Essential repairs are needed for school roofs, windows, bathrooms, plumbing, wiring, athletic facilities, and heating and cooling systems. Student enrollment is growing and Pittsburg High School will soon reach its maximum capacity of 3,486 students. Studies show that overcrowded schools are not safe, making it harder to respond to emergencies, increasing health risks and campus violence. Voting Yes on P will provide up-to-date classrooms and labs to meet today’s standards.

“As of June 30, 2024, Pittsburg Unified still had $395 million outstanding from previously issued bonds. That’s a big debt load for a district with Fall 2022 Census Day enrollment of just 10,665 pupils — down 6% from Fall 2018. Pittsburg USD’s board should allow homeowners to pay down existing obligations before saddling them with another $140 billion bond requiring an estimated $295 million of debt service (principal plus interest) through the 2057–58 school year.”

“We need Measure Q. Measure Q will not raise tax rates above what homeowners are currently paying. It will simply continue the current tax rate to maintain vital local funding that our public schools have relied on for more than two decades. If Measure Q does not pass, our schools will lose nearly $7 million every year in locally controlled funding.”

“SRVUSD should reduce its massive overspending, not prolong its parcel-tax cash grab. Instead, Measure Q still seeks to extend SRVUSD’s annual $6.8 million additional bonanza another nine years. As always and again, SRVUSD pleads poverty — despite having implemented 8.5% raises in late 2022 and 6% more just last February.”

“Many of our schools were built over 40 years ago and require upgrades to meet today’s safety and education standards. Some of our schools possess poor drinking water, leaky roofs, deteriorating bathrooms, and outdated security and electrical systems. Your Yes vote on R provides updated schools, classrooms, and science labs that help provide a strong foundation for our students, so they are ready for high school, college and future careers.”

“Byron Union School District still had $20 million outstanding from previously issued bonds. That’s a significant debt load for a district consisting of only three school buildings and with Fall 2022 Census Day enrollment of just 2166 pupils — down 4.9% from Fall 2018. Byron Union’s board should allow homeowners to pay down existing obligations before saddling them with another $24 million bond requiring an estimated $47 million of debt service.”

“Our Recreation and Park District receives no money from the state, nor the cities of Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, nor any school district. Our district is completely funded by local residents. Our entire Pleasant Hill community benefits from our parks and recreation facilities. Keeping them safe, clean, well maintained, and accessible to community members of all ages and abilities helps attract new families to our community and helps protect property values of our homes.”

“With $27 million of debt already on its books, the district proposes to borrow an additional $77 million. Standard & Poor’s already gives Pleasant Hill Parks and Rec a relatively low bond rating due, in part, to its ‘elevated debt service carrying charges with high overall net debt per capita.’ Adding more debt could result in a credit downgrade. The total $100 million of bonds is a heavy debt burden for a district.”