This is a 2-minute summary of Oakland’s Measure Y on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
This is an annual tax of $68 per parcel — that’s a unit of property — and the money will help fund the Oakland Zoo.
If passed, it would increase the zoo’s current $24 million budget per year, by 50%.
With this additional money, the Oakland Zoo plans to do many things. Among those: It will upgrade animal care, improve education programs, and increase accessibility for low-income families.
For long-time Oaklanders, this measure might sound familiar. Yes, exactly 10 years ago, Oakland voters rejected a similar proposition to add a $12-per-unit annual tax in order to fund the zoo. By the way, that’s more than five times lower than Measure Y proposes.
The zoo has expanded since then. But, the pandemic led to a loss of revenue.
So, who supports Oakland’s Measure Y? Well, the Conservation Society of California who operates the zoo does.
On the other side, non-profit associations like the League of Women voters of Oakland raise concerns.
They fear that the tax will impose too much of a financial burden on the back of Oaklanders. And Oaklanders only represent 15% of the zoo’s attendees.
So, here’s the bottom line:
If Oaklanders vote yes on measure Y, they will agree to pay a new tax. And 40% of the Oakland Zoo’s budget will then come from public funds.
A “no” vote on measure Y would stop the new tax for Oaklanders and maintain the zoo’s budget at its current level.
That's a brief take on Oakland’s measure Y.
