Official Ballot text

About the measure 

Measure NN  is a renewal and increase of Measure Z, the 2014 Oakland Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Act, which expires at the end of 2024. Measure NN would increase Oakland’s parcel tax and parking tax surcharge (specific amounts below) for the next nine years to fund the Police Department, Department of Violence Prevention, and, to a much smaller extent, the Fire Department. The tax would generate approximately $47.4 million annually, with 60% allocated to the Police Department and 40% to the Department of Violence Prevention after deducting administrative costs (3%) and $3 million for the Fire Department.

Of the Police Department’s funds, 10% would support non-sworn positions (e.g., 911 dispatch, maintenance, operations, crime lab), and 50% of the remaining amount would cover sworn police officers’ costs. Of funds allocated to the Department of Violence Prevention, 75% would be granted to community-based organizations. These allocations mirror those from the predecessor Measure Z.

What it will cost 

The measure increases the parcel tax as follows:

• Single-family homes: from $133 to $198 annually.
• Multi-family properties: from $91 to $132 per unit annually.
• Commercial buildings: tax based on square footage and frontage, increasing from $68 to $198 annually. 

These changes would take effect in July 2025, with exemptions and rebates available for low-income households and specific properties.

The parking tax surcharge, which applies to every commercial parking space in the city, would increase from 8.5% to 10%, also starting in January 2025.

How the money would be spent  

The measure requires revenue generated to be spent towards:

• Reducing homicides, robberies, carjackings, break-ins, domestic violence, and gun-related violence.
• Improving 911 response times and quality.
• Combating human trafficking, including the exploitation of minors.
• Covering associated administrative expenses.

The measure requires the City to budget for, hire and maintain a minimum of 700 sworn police officers, starting no later than July 2026, bars layoffs that would reduce the police force to below 800 officers, and a minimum of 480 sworn firefighters. The City must adopt a staffing plan and report shortfalls to the City Council. If minimum staffing isn’t maintained or the City does not adequately budget for the minimum requirement, the City can’t collect the tax unless 1) grants funds or other restricted funds used to support sworn police personnel are reduced or otherwise unavailable or 2) a state of extreme fiscal necessity is declared.

What are the accountability measures? 

The measure establishes an independent budget auditor in the City Auditor’s office to conduct audits every other year at a minimum and produce annual spending reports to ensure proper use of the funds.

Measure NN replaces the existing Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Commission with a smaller, five-person oversight commission. The new Commission will have similar duties as its predecessor. Commissioners will be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. This commission will develop four-year Community Violence Reduction Plans and review fund usage to ensure accountability. It can also recommend changes to staffing thresholds, including for layoffs, for police and firefighters, subject to City Council approval.

Background

A political action committee called Oaklanders Together For A Safer Oakland is the official group supporting and raising money for Measure NN. Oaklanders Together includes community leaders, small businesses, doctors, public health experts, firefighters and first responders. Like its predecessor Measure Z, Measure NN has widespread support from the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, the International Association of Firefighters Local 55, and numerous community organizations, nonprofits, and elected officials.

Measures NN requires a majority vote to pass.

Pros

• Provides essential funding for Oakland’s police, fire, and violence prevention services and to improve 911.
• Without this measure, Oakland would cease to have a critical source of funding for police, fire and violence prevention. 
• As written, the Measure would establish accountability over the use of funds and staffing of the police and fire departments through audits, reporting, and oversight.
• Staffing minimums would help maintain public safety and consequences for unmet targets would help ensure accountability.
• The Community Violence Reduction Plans aim to coordinate efforts with clear goals and data-driven strategies.

Cons

• Measure Z, which had the same stated aims, has not had the desired public safety outcomes. Measure NN’s staffing thresholds are in fact lower than previously, even though the Measure is increasing the parcel tax.  
• Measure NN is brought by a PAC as  a citizens’ initiative, bypassing City Council review, lacking public input and avoiding legislative debate.
• The reduction of oversight commission members from 9 to 5 was made without justification.
• The Council doesn’t have to meet rigorous and objective criteria to invoke the ‘extreme fiscal necessity’ provision. As such, they’re ripe to use it, especially since it allows them to avoid addressing underlying financial issues. When invoked, funds intended for a specific purpose – in this case public safety – are redirected to the general purpose fund, against the will of the voters, undermining the intended service provisions that motivated voters in the first place.
• A significant portion (75%) of the funds is earmarked for community-based service providers, but the Measure lacks clear eligibility criteria, leaving room for potential favoritism. It also does not require coordination among CBOs, nor does it include strong accountability measures for outcomes. While the funds are intended for specific programs, the vague categorization could easily lead to a broad interpretation, increasing the risk of misappropriation.
• The City’s 120-day response time to projected police staffing shortages is excessive and jeopardizes residents’ public safety. 

Recommendation: Yes

Empower Oakland reluctantly endorses Measure NN, in large part because Oakland is in the midst of a serious public safety crisis and not having the funding from this measure would be devastating to Oakland’s public safety improvement efforts. 

But there’s no denying that this Measure has numerous flaws that threaten its effectiveness, and run counter to principles of good government. We find the potential loopholes allowing the City Council to bypass staffing requirements infuriating, and we’re concerned that funds could ultimately be diverted to other programs. The fact that this Measure wasn’t brought before the council for public debate goes against our commitment to government transparency and accountability. 

There is also the fact that this measure is ultimately necessitated by the City’s poor budget practices, which continue to put it in a position where special taxes are needed. While Measure NN increases police staffing levels from the minimum required in Measure Z (678 sown police personnel), when the original public safety parcel tax was passed (Measure Y), Oakland was fully funding 739 officers. 

Similar to Measure Z, Measure NN lacks robust accountability mechanisms for the allocation of grant funding to community-based organizations (CBOs), leaving room for potential favoritism. Without stronger safeguards in place, there is a risk that funds could be funneled to organizations with connections to City Council members, rather than being based strictly on merit or need. 

In addition, the measure lacks clear metrics to assess the effectiveness of funded programs, leaving the impact of these initiatives and their financial allocations largely unmeasured. While the Community Violence Reduction Plan may outline these provisions and details, it’s concerning that the Measure itself does not include these critical guidelines to ensure the money is spent effectively from the outset. 

This measure – for all its shortcomings – will provide critical funding for police and fire services. Simply put: without it, Oakland would lose a key source of public safety funding, and replacing it will be difficult. Relying more heavily on the General Fund, will result in cuts to other services that we can’t afford, and reduce the level of program oversight and evaluation.

Ultimately, Measure NN’s effectiveness depends on the quality, integrity, and capabilities of the city leaders who will be implementing its programs. Will they exploit loopholes to keep playing politics and avoid making necessary yet unpopular decisions? Will they continue awarding grants to allied community based organizations regardless of program effectiveness? 

This measure can work with leaders who are committed to comprehensively addressing Oakland’s public safety crises and ensuring data-driven decision-making for continuous improvement. To ensure Measure NN’s effectiveness, we recommend voting for Empower Oakland’s slate of endorsed candidates, the Mayoral recall, and the District Attorney recall.