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Oakland commissioners press for clearer accounting of Measure M wildfire funds
Summary
Commissioners pressed staff and the fire chief for a line‑by‑line accounting of Measure M spending, citing concerns that the measure’s money may be backfilling existing budgets. Fire and public‑works officials promised a spending report and a Power BI map to show where clearing is occurring.
Oakland commissioners pressed city staff on April 16 for a clearer accounting of Measure M wildfire‑prevention funds, saying residents deserve to know whether the parcel tax is being spent in addition to — rather than in place of — existing vegetation‑management budgets.
Councilmember Unger, who attended to speak about finance in place of absent budget staff, told the commission the highest priority should be "life safety," including keeping evacuation routes clear, establishing safe refuge areas for firefighters and creating anchor points for operations. "When I talk about life safety, number 1 is evacuation routes," he said.
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