About Measure Z

Measure Z is an attempt to improve public safety in Oakland by reducing violent crime and improving emergency services.

Measure Z's goals

In 2014, 74% of Oakland voters approved ballot measure Z. Measure Z collects and distributes money to programs serving three goals:

Reduce homicides, robberies, burglaries, and gun-related violence
Improve police and fire emergency 911 response times and other police services
Support at-risk youth and young adults

Methods for achieving these goals

There are three main ways Measure Z attempts to achieve these goals:

Staff community-centered policing roles and projects. There are 35 police beats in Oakland, grouped into five policing areas. Each area is assigned a Community Resource Team (CRT) of eight officers: one Community Resource Officer (CRO) for each beat in the area, plus a designated CRO to coordinate projects.
Invest in violence intervention and prevention strategies that provide support for at-risk youth and young adults to interrupt the cycle of violence and recidivism. Currently, 26 different programs are funded through the Dept. of Violence Prevention.
Maintain an oversight commission appointed by the Mayor and City Council to “review and evaluate” the measure's implementation.

One controversial component of Measure Z is its requirement that the City budget for and staff at least 678 police officers. The measure specifically prohibits the city from laying off any officers if it would bring OPD under this minimum. If the City fails to do this, the amount of money collected to fund these programs is reduced based on how long the police staff size remains under the minimum. If it fails to budget for this minimum at all, no money at all may be collected. There are some exceptions to this.

Where the money comes from

Measure Z collects money through two taxes: a parcel tax and a parking tax. Oakland property owners pay between $51.09 and $99.77 depending on the type of parcel or property they own:

Single-family residential: $99.77 per unit
Multiple-family residential: $68.15 per unit
Non-residential: $51.09 per unit

Additionally, parking lot operators are charged an 8.5% tax on the rental of each parking space. Both of these taxes existed prior to Measure Z; the measure simply continued these taxes and further defined the use of the money.

View spending breakdown

Full text of Measure Z

Download the full text (PDF).

Editorial coverage

Public safety has increasingly been covered in local and national news. Coverage specifically about Measure Z is less frequent.

Oakland will fund another police academy this year, amid rising violence (2021)
Oaklandside article describes how Measure Z funding is impacted by police staffing levels.
Oakland City Council Adds New Police Academy, More Officers Due To Rising Crime Rate (2021)
Pro-policing coverage that includes un-cited assertions about police staffing and crime rates.
Oakland councilmembers propose to reduce violent crime with new city department (2017)
East Bay Citizen article about the proposed creation of the Dept. of Violence Prevention, which would eventually absorb many of the programs funded by Measure Z.
Yes on Measure Z: Please Read (2014)
Op-ed from Neighbors for a Safer Oakland, the Measure Z campaign committee.