This midterm, Berkeley residents will have the opportunity to vote for seven Berkeley measures, several of which directly impact Berkeley High School students or their families, from the funding of local schools to the cost of groceries and the future of city services. Those registered to vote in California may vote by mail until election day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, although the California Secretary of State website recommends voting by Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Berkeley residents who didn’t register before Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, may register on the same day as voting at an Alameda County voting center, one of which will be located at BHS.
Measure Y
Measure Y would enact a parcel tax of $0.07 per square foot of improvements for Berkeley buildings, aiding Berkeley’s performing arts organizations. Many of these organizations have been struggling in recent years, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the elimination of federal grants by the Trump administration. The revenue from Measure Y would be distributed through grant programs, with 75 percent going to performing arts rescue and sustainability and 10 percent going to capital projects of performing arts nonprofits. Five percent would go to arts organizations and individual artist projects, and another five percent would go to community festivals. The remaining five percent would be used to cover the administrative costs of carrying out the measure. If passed, the tax would be in place for 12 years.
Regional Transit Measure
Regional Transit Measure would help fund public transportation by putting in place a 0.5 percent retail transactions and use tax for Bay Area counties and a one percent retail transactions and use tax for San Francisco, similar to a sales tax. The revenue from the tax would go towards funding BART, AC Transit, Muni, and Caltrain, among others. 64.7 percent of the money from Alameda County would go to BART. Opponents of the measure argue that Bay Area transit agencies already receive a sum of six billion dollars from taxes, tolls, and government grants, and should figure out how to cut costs and then come back next election with a lower tax proposal. If passed, the tax would be in effect for 14 years.
Measures U & Measure V
Measures U and V are the city’s two proposals for funding Berkeley’s budget and infrastructure. Measure U would let the city issue $300 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements, including Fire Department facilities, seismic and climate resiliency systems, the replacement of natural gas with electricity in city infrastructure, and upgrades to parks and recreation facilities. Supporters say the projects would prepare Berkeley for earthquakes, fires, and climate change. Opponents argue that bonds should have a clearer purpose, and point out that with interest, the $300 million would cost residents about $610 million over four decades. Measure V would add a half-cent to the city’s sales tax, raising the rate from 10.25 to 10.75 percent. Supporters say the roughly $10 million it would raise locally would prevent cuts to services like firefighters and 911 dispatch, and that the new rate would match neighboring cities like Albany and Oakland. Opponents argue that sales taxes are regressive, meaning they take a larger share of income from lower-income residents.
Measure AA
In Nov. of 2014, Berkeley citizens became the first in the country to vote to implement a soda tax of $0.01 per fluid ounce on all sugar-sweetened beverages. Measure AA proposes to increase the current tax to $0.02 per fluid ounce. As opposed to the original resolution, Measure AA earnings will directly fund specific aspects of the Berkeley community, including Berkeley Unified School District gardening and nutrition programs, community-based nutrition education, health services, and administrative overhead. Those in support of the tax argue that the funding will build a strong support system for all Berkeley residents. Residents against the increased soda tax argue that increasing extremely costly prices for groceries in Berkeley will place unnecessary financial strain on residents.