BERKELEY — Numerous measures on Berkeley's November ballot deal with improving the health and well-being of the population, from expanding a tax on sugary drinks to increasing a tax intended to fund improvements to city parks, trees and landscaping.
A ballot initiative called Measure HH would set recent indoor air quality standards in municipal or leased buildings which are consistent with standards set by the White House COVID-19 Response Team and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Supporters of Measure HH, which requires a straightforward majority vote to pass, say requiring town to enhance air quality in its buildings to handle problems starting from airborne diseases to wildfire smoke would save town money in the long term by reducing health care costs, worker sick days and employees' compensation.
“Healthy city buildings pay off,” was one argument in favor of the HH measure.
But opponents argue that the associated fee of upgrading the facilities would lead to less money for other city services. One evaluation puts the associated fee at about $4 million.
The measure faced opposition from city officials, including Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who said at a city council meeting in July that the proposal was an “unreasonable measure” with an uncertain cost.
“We can have both safe buildings and fund essential city services. Vote no on Measure HH. Tell the proponents to go over everything again and work with city leaders to come up with a more sensible and less costly plan,” reads an argument against the measure written by Arreguin, Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf and Council Member Mark Humbert.
Arreguin and Wengraf have also publicly opposed a natural gas tax. Measure GG would impose a tax of $2.9647 per therm of natural gas utilized in buildings of 15,000 square feet or more, excluding government buildings, single-family homes, and residential buildings with a minimum of 50% inexpensive housing.
If approved by a straightforward majority of voters, the measure would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and would raise an estimated $26.7 million in its first yr. Revenues would increase annually until the measure expires in 2050. Tax revenues would go right into a special fund, most of which could be spent on decarbonizing buildings and converting to natural gas.
“We can fight the climate crisis and improve quality of life by taxing the biggest polluters,” supporters wrote in an argument in favor of Measure GG.
Opponents, meanwhile, argue that the tax measure would burden nonprofits, schools, houses of worship and small businesses, forcing them to limit programs and staff or close altogether.
In addition to potentially exposing town to legal motion, opponents of the tax claim that “the technology simply doesn’t exist yet” to permit all organizations and businesses that will be affected by the tax to change from natural gas in a cheap manner.
“The city is already working with nonprofits and small businesses to manage the transition in a way that ensures corporations pay their fair share while protecting nonprofits, tenants and small businesses. We would like to join them in doing this in a sustainable, effective and Berkeley way,” wrote the backers of the “No to GG” campaign, which is supported by Wengraf, Arreguin and other council members in addition to Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks.
Another ballot initiative, Measure X, would create a brand new source of funding for the Berkeley Public Library by imposing a property tax of six cents per square foot for residential units and nine cents per square foot for all other kinds of properties.
If two-thirds of voters approve it, the tax is anticipated to boost a further $5.6 million annually until it’s repealed. The ballot proposal calls for maintaining facilities and services with priority on weekends and evenings, expanding programming for youth, older adults and job seekers, and improving infrastructure, including access for individuals with disabilities, the library's Wi-Fi system and website.
Measure Y would increase the prevailing property tax town collects to pay for the creation and maintenance of parks, trees and landscaping from $0.2210 per square foot of taxable improvements to $0.2652. If two-thirds of voters approve, the tax rate change would raise a further $3.8 million annually, for a complete of $22 million per yr.
Property owners with “very low income” could be eligible for an exemption from the tax, which voters first approved in 1997.
“All Berkeley residents deserve beautiful parks, a robust waterfront, and an ecologically sustainable and biologically diverse city,” reads one argument for the measure drafted by council members. “Berkeley's parks are environmental justice and climate justice in action. Now it's our turn to contribute to that legacy.”
Measure Z, a tax on sugary drinks, can be a continuation of an existing city tax approved by voters in 2014 and set to run out in 2027. If voters pass the measure by a straightforward majority, the $0.01 per ounce tax paid by retailers could be prolonged indefinitely. It would need to be repealed by voters.
Since the soda tax was first passed, it has collected about $1.15 million annually. Exemptions for small retailers, dairy products and baby food will remain in place even when the tax is prolonged.
“By voting YES! on Measure Z, we can further reduce soda consumption and prevent the health problems it causes,” wrote the measure's supporters, including City Councilwoman Sophie Hahn and Berkeley Unified School Board Vice President Ka'Dijah A. Brown.
They noted that tax revenues have funded salaries for horticulture teachers in any respect BUSD schools, hundreds of health and dental screenings for underserved residents, healthy eating classes for kids, and free food distribution and food boxes.
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