PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 09/21/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION AND LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MEASURE V, THE SCHOOL PARCEL TAX RENEWAL, ON THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026 BALLOT
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution and authorize formal statement in support of Measure V.
Body
Compliance statements
FY2025-27 CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY WORKPLAN
Policy #102 - Foster College and Career Readiness, Education and Youth Leadership and City of San Pablo, Contra Costa College/ WCCUSD Partnerships is an adopted policy contained in the adopted FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan, adopted on April 7, 2025.
CEQA COMPLIANCE STATEMENT
This proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
Background
San Pablo residents are served by the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), which owns and operates six (6) school campuses in San Pablo within the District’s boundaries.
Local District voters first approved an education parcel tax in 2004 and have renewed it several times since that period. Most recently, Measure T, passed in November 2016 with approximately 76% of the vote. The current tax will expire on June 30, 2027.
Proposed Measure V Parcel Tax Measure
On July 15, 2026, the WCCUSD Board of Education voted unanimously to place a renewal measure before local voters at the November 3, 2026 election. Key terms of the proposed funding mechanism include:
● Rate: 7.2 cents per square foot of building area - no increase over the existing rate (roughly $72 per year for a typical single-family home).
● Term: nine (9) years.
● Revenue: approximately $10.1-$10.2 million annually, including a proportional share for local charter schools.
● Exemptions: senior citizens and property owners with qualifying disabilities remain exempt on application.
● Accountability: proceeds are restricted to the purposes stated in the measure, with independent citizens’ oversight and annual reporting.
● Threshold: as a special tax, the measure requires a two-thirds (66.67%) majority to pass.
Measure V is a renewal measure, not a new parcel tax. It continues funding for District-provided services that directly affect San Pablo students: school counseling, library services, athletics, after-school programs, smaller class sizes, and college and career readiness. These are the District-provided programs most closely tied to attendance, safety, and graduation outcomes, and they complement the City’s own strategic investments funded by the City’s Measure S sales tax measure adopted by local voters in November 2020 through its Full-Service Community Schools/Beacon Director programming at local San Pablo schools. All youth, recreation, and violence-prevention programming are administered via service contracts through the Youth, Schools and Community Partnership Division in the City’s Community Services Department. See link for more information: <https://www.sanpabloca.gov/893/Youth-School-Community-Partnerships>
WCCUSD has already absorbed $19.7 million in cuts and anticipates $8 million more next year if the proposed Measure V fails. The lost revenue would disproportionately affect schools serving San Pablo’s highest-need students and increase demand for City-funded youth services, placing the City’s General Fund at substantial fiscal risk.
Independent polling conducted for the District in 2026 showed support near, but below, the two-thirds threshold. A clear statement from the City Council would help inform local San Pablo voters about what the measure funds and what its expiration would mean locally.
Legal Considerations
The City Council may legally adopt a Resolution taking a position on a ballot measure at a properly noticed public meeting and may prepare fair and impartial informational material. Public funds and staff time may not be used for campaign advocacy, and no City resources will be used to support campaign activities in connection with Measure V.
City Manager Recommendation
City Council will consider formal adoption of a Resolution of Support for Measure V and a formal statement from the City to be signed by the Mayor for use in any official purposes in providing facts and information to local San Pablo and District voters regarding Measure V on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
FISCAL IMPACT
None associated with the agenda report.
Measure V is a WCCUSD imposed parcel tax renewal measure on real property within WCCUSD boundaries; it imposes no cost or obligation on the City’s General Fund. Adoption of the Resolution and authorization of a formal statement are not perceived as cost impact related items to the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
Att A. Resolution of Support
Att B. Letter of Statement in Support of Measure V from the City of San Pablo