Berkeley council directs staff to prepare ballot language for $300 million bond and 0.5% sales tax after poll shows narrow support

The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously May 19 to direct staff to prepare ballot language for a $300 million general obligation bond and a 0.5% increase in the city sales-and-use tax for the Nov. 3, 2026 municipal election.

The motion, moved by Councilmember Taplin and seconded from the dais, followed a presentation of a Lake Research Partners poll showing initial ballot support at about 69% for the bond and 52% for the half‑percent sales tax. David Mervin of Lake Research Partners presented the survey and its stress tests, saying, “nearly 7 in 10 Berkeley voters are inclined to vote yes on the GO bond on the initial ballot—69%,” and noting the bond’s support fell modestly when pro and con messaging was tested.

Why it matters: the bond is intended to address a large, long‑standing backlog of infrastructure needs—staff described an estimated unfunded liability between $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion—and the sales tax is proposed to help close a roughly $30 million annual structural gap in the city’s general fund. Deputy City Manager David White summarized the financial framework and timeline, saying staff plans to return June 16 with proposed ballot language and that the county deadline for ballot materials is Aug. 7.

What the poll showed: Lake Research Partners described its methodology as a representative likely‑voter sample conducted the week of April 21, 2026 (margin of error ±4.4%). Mervin told council the GO bond starts at roughly 69% yes on the initial ballot and falls to about 64% after an informed pro/con treatment; the sales tax started at about 52% and rose to roughly 56% after the same head‑to‑head message testing. Mervin cautioned that the presence of multiple revenue measures on the same ballot can depress support slightly and that organized opposition campaigns could shift outcomes.

Projected tax impact and revenue: staff said the proposed bond structure (issuing about $100 million every five years beginning in 2027) yields a combined average tax rate of roughly 0.0441%—about $44 per $100,000 of assessed value—equating to about $242 per year for a median assessed value of $550,000 under the assumptions presented. Deputy City Manager White estimated a 0.5% sales tax increase could generate about $9–$10 million annually for the general fund.

Council reaction and safeguards: councilmembers pressed staff on margins of error, likely undecideds, and campaign dynamics; several members emphasized the need for strong accountability and audit measures if the measures go to the ballot. Staff said the bond framework includes about $40.5 million for implementation and delivery staffing, and that the measure would include audit and reporting provisions similar to prior bond measures.

Public comment: speakers from the Berkeley Historical Society and other community organizations urged the council to devote more funding to seismic work at Old City Hall and the Veterans Memorial Building, noting those buildings are in active use and house community services. Sports groups and neighborhood commenters urged inclusion of Harrison Park turf conversion and restroom upgrades. Jady Zica of the Berkeley Historical Society said the transcript’s description that civic buildings are “vacant” is misleading and asked council to recognize ongoing uses and risks.

Next steps: council directed staff to prepare ballot language for both measures and return with proposed language on June 16. The county filing deadline for ballot language was stated as Aug. 7; council members said they expect to continue refining the project list and to include clear auditing and reporting provisions.

Vote: the motion to prepare ballot language passed by roll call vote; all present councilmembers voted yes (motion moved by Councilmember Taplin; second recorded).