"Voters approved Measure W, a half-cent general sales tax, in November 2020. It was projected to raise $1.8 billion over 10 years. The board decided last year that 80% of the money would be allocated specifically to homeless services, while the other 20% would be for other social services such as food security and health care."
"The county began collecting Measure W revenue in 2021, but a lawsuit by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association hamstrung the release of funds soon after. The association alleged that Measure W was written as a special tax to specifically support housing and homelessness, so it required a two-thirds majority to pass. Because of the lawsuit, the county held the taxes in escrow."
"I was hoping that the money would be released sooner than what we're seeing. We really don't have time to wait. We've got to move with some urgency here. We have a crisis on the streets. We need to move quickly."
Alameda County voters approved Measure W, a half-cent sales tax, in November 2020, projected to raise $1.8 billion over ten years for homelessness services and housing. The county began collecting revenue in 2021 but faced a lawsuit from the Alameda County Taxpayers Association challenging whether the measure required a two-thirds majority vote. This legal challenge forced the county to hold approximately $800 million in escrow. A 2025 court ruling determined Measure W was a general tax, allowing fund release. The Board of Supervisors allocated 80% for homeless services and 20% for other social services. Despite the legal resolution, over $700 million remains undistributed, prompting criticism from officials about slow implementation during the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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