Election results reported by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters show Piedmont’s Measure F comfortably exceeding the two-thirds threshold needed to pass, with over 75% of voters favoring the proposal. As of 4:44pm on Monday, March 11, tallies show 2,901 votes in favor and 924 votes opposed.
“Once again, Piedmont voters have affirmed their generosity and commitment to maintaining the high-quality services the city is known for,” said Mayor Jen Cavenaugh. “Measure F represents an investment in our future – it will provide stable, long-term funding for all departments while also supporting strategic new investments in technology and public safety.”
Cavenaugh continued, “This victory is a testament to what we can achieve together. On behalf of the entire Council, I want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Budget Advisory Committee members, whose guidance and expertise was instrumental in shaping this measure; to the many supporters whose advocacy helped educate community members about this essential need; and most of all – to Piedmont voters. We are deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in us.”
The City Services Tax provides approximately 7% of the Piedmont’s general fund budget, supporting core services including police, fire, paramedic services, parks, recreation, greenspaces, stormwater infrastructure, streets, and public facilities. The tax was first passed by Piedmont voters in 1981 and has now been renewed 11 times.
Measure F included two changes to the tax. It proposed to extend the term from the traditional 4 years to 12 years in order to better support long-range financial planning and to increase the rate by 20% to fund new technology investments and expand staffing in the City’s 9-1-1 dispatch center – which Police Chief Jeremy Bowers has identified as the single greatest resource needed to support community safety. The City Council incorporated these new elements into the ballot measure at the recommendation of the City’s Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee – a volunteer resident body composed of experienced finance professionals who advise the Council on budgetary matters.
“Elections give the community the chance to express what’s important to them,” said City Administrator Rosanna Bayon Moore. “We’re gratified both by the strong turnout among our voters and their overwhelming support for Measure F. High-quality services matter to Piedmont, as does investment in quality of life measures to ensure public safety. We take this message to heart and are committed to serving as responsible stewards.”
Registrar of Voters data published as of Tuesday, March 12 shows a total of 4,675 vote-by-mail ballots returned by Piedmont voters. The Registrar of Voters will continue to update results as more ballots are counted. Results are not considered final until certified by the Registrar of Voters Office, which has until April 4 to do so.