After voters said no to a tax hike, Pleasanton staff asks if it’s worth another try
Oakland police chief says dropping to 620 sworn officers is tipping point for significant impacts to the force. OPD loses 5-6 officers per month to attrition, outpacing any gains from academy recruits
☕️MORNING BUZZ
—Pleasanton city staff appear ready to move past last year’s resounding defeat of Measure PP, a proposed half-cent sales tax increase that voters rejected by more than 54 percent in November.
Despite warnings that failure would force cuts to city services, residents turned down the measure, and the city was later forced to trim about $10 million from its budget in June.
Now, staff are asking the City Council whether to pursue another revenue-generating ballot measure in November 2026.
They are seeking direction to begin polling this year, though an official decision on a measure would not be needed for nearly a year.
Pleasanton voters, generally among the more moderate-to-conservative electorates in Alameda County, showed little appetite for a tax hike in 2024.
Measure PP’s defeat also reshaped local politics: then-councilmember Jack Balch rode opposition to the measure to win the mayor’s office, while Craig Eicher leveraged the same issue to unseat an incumbent councilmember.
The outcome remains a topic of debate—whether Pleasanton’s rejection was an outlier or an early indicator of broader resistance to new taxes in Alameda County heading into the 2026 election cycle.
Oakland is planning some type of revenue-generating ballot measure next June that is created to potentially stave off falling deeper into fiscal insolvency.
San Leandro officials remain skeptical about the electorate’s appetite next year for an infrastructure bond. In addition, several Alameda County cities are eyeing other types of revenue measures.
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—More inside:
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Hayward officials propose major update to tree preservation ordinance as new housing demands increase.
Oakland Police is continuing to struggle with staffing, academy shortfalls as attrition is expected to outpace new recruits.
Right-wing groups return to Livermore school board meeting, “politely” target LGBT programs and women’s sports.
