The campaign for Berkeley’s $300 million infrastructure bond and a half-cent sales-tax increase declared victory Tuesday, after the latest unofficial results showed both measures above the margins they need to pass, Berkeleyside reported. Alameda County’s official unofficial returns, last updated at 4:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, show the same lead.
Why it matters: Measure U, the bond, needs a two-thirds vote. The county posted 34,185 yes votes, or 71.61%, to 13,550 no, or 28.39%. Measure V, the sales tax, needs a simple majority and stood at 25,193 yes, or 52.97%, to 22,371 no, or 47.03%. All 31 Berkeley precincts are partially reported, and the registrar listed further updates for Friday, Nov. 13, and Monday, Nov. 16. The figures remain unofficial.
“Although ballots are still being tallied countywide, it is clear that Berkeley voters have approved measures U and V,” campaign manager Rebecca Mirvish said in a statement, according to Berkeleyside. Supporters have said the bond would fund fire stations, parks and other public facilities, and that without the sales-tax increase the city would have to cut services further.
Berkeleyside said voters approved six of seven Berkeley measures. The exception is Measure Z, a parcel tax for a regional public bank, which stood at 21,089 yes, or 44.99%, to 25,783 no, or 55.01%, in the same county report; that campaign conceded last week. Measure Y, a parcel tax for arts groups, had 69.70% yes; Measure AA, which doubles the soda tax, had 76.52% yes; and Measures W and X, on election procedures and tenant rules, had 68.63% and 69.93% yes, respectively.