BERKELEY — A number of measures appearing on Berkeley’s November ballot focus on improving community health and wellness, from extending a tax on sugary beverages to increasing another meant to fund improvements to city parks, trees and landscaping.
One ballot initiative, Measure HH, would set new indoor air quality standards for city-owned or leased buildings to be in alignment with those set by the White House COVID-19 Response Team and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Proponents of Measure HH, which needs a simple majority of votes to pass, say requiring the city to improve air quality in its buildings to tackle issues from airborne illnesses to wildfire smoke would save the city money in the long run by reducing health care costs, the number of sick days employees take and workers’ compensation.
“Healthy city buildings pay for themselves,” read one argument in favor of Measure HH.
Opponents, though, assert the cost of facility upgrades would mean less money for other city services. One analysis estimated the cost to be about $4 million.
The measure received pushback from city officials, including Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who at a July City Council meeting said the proposal is an “unreasonable measure” with an uncertain price tag.
“We can have both safe buildings and fund essential city services. Vote No on Measure HH. Tell proponents to go back to the drawing board and work with city leaders to come up with a more sensible and less costly plan,” read an argument against the measure authored by Arreguin, Vice Mayor Susan Wengraf and Councilmember Mark Humbert.
Arreguin and Wengraf have also publicly opposed a natural gas tax. Measure GG would establish a tax of $2.9647 per therm of natural gas consumed in buildings of 15,000 square feet or larger, excluding government buildings, single-family residences and residential buildings with at least 50% affordable units.
If approved by a simple majority of voters, the measure would take effect Jan 1, 2025, and is estimated to generate $26.7 million in its first year, increasing annually until it expires in 2050. The tax revenue would go into a special fund to be largely spent on building decarbonization and converting natural gas.
“We can fight the climate crisis and improve quality of life by taxing the largest polluters,” wrote proponents in an argument in favor of Measure GG.
Meanwhile, opponents argue the tax measure would burden nonprofits, schools, places of worship and small businesses, forcing them to cut programs, staffing or close altogether.
In addition to potentially exposing the city to litigation, opponents assert “the technology simply doesn’t exist yet” for all organizations and businesses that would be impacted by the tax to make the transition away from natural gas in a cost effective way.
“The city is already working with nonprofits and small businesses to transition in a way that makes corporations pay their fair share while protecting nonprofits, renters and small businesses. We’re eager to join them, to do this in a sustainable, effective, Berkeley way,” wrote those behind the No on GG campaign, which has been endorsed by Wengraf, Arreguin and other councilmembers and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks.
Another ballot initiative, Measure X, would establish a new funding stream for the Berkeley Public Library by establishing a parcel tax of six cents per square foot of dwelling units and nine cents per square foot of all other types of properties.
If approved by two-thirds of voters, the tax is expected to raise an additional $5.6 million annually until repealed. The ballot measure calls for maintaining facilities and services with a priority around weekend and evening hours, expanding programming for youth, older adults and job seekers, and improving infrastructure including access for people with disabilities, the Wi-Fi system and library website.
Measure Y, which calls for increasing an existing parcel tax rate the city charges for establishing and maintaining parks, trees and landscaping from $0.2210 per-square-foot of taxable improvements to $0.2652. If approved by two-thirds of voters, the rate change would raise an additional $3.8 million annually for a total of $22 million per year.
Property owners with “very low income levels” would qualify for an exemption from the tax first approved by voters in 1997.
“All Berkeley residents deserve beautiful parks, a resilient waterfront, and an ecologically sustainable and biodiverse city,” read an argument in favor of the measure drafted by councilmembers. “Berkeley’s parks are environmental justice and climate equity in action. It’s our turn to contribute to the legacy.”
Measure Z, a sugar-sweetened beverages tax, is also a continuation of an existing city tax that was approved by voters in 2014 and is set to expire in 2027. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the $0.01-per-fluid-ounce tax paid by distributors will be extended without an expiration date. It would have to be repealed by voters.
Roughly $1.15 million has been raised annually since the soda tax was initially approved. Exemptions for small retailers, milk products and baby formula will remain in place if the tax is renewed.
“By voting YES! on Measure Z we can continue to reduce soda consumption and prevent the health problems it causes,” wrote measure proponents, including Councilmember Sophie Hahn and Berkeley Unified School Board Vice President Ka’Dijah A. Brown.
They noted the tax revenue has helped fund salaries for gardening teachers at all BUSD schools, thousands of health and dental screenings for underserved residents, lessons on healthy eating for kids and free food pantries and grocery boxes.