Both the Acalanes Union High School District and the Public Transit Revenue Measure District are trying again to convince voters to pass measures providing more funds to County transportation and to local high schools. Both measures have been before voters in the past, but  failed to reach the required majority for passage.

    Measure W would permit Acalanes Union High School District to levy a $168 parcel tax for eight years. In order to pass, the measure must win 66.67% voter approval. Measure W will appear on ballots for each of the five AUHSD trustee areas.

    In May 2025, AUHSD ran a similar parcel tax measure, Measure T, in a special election. Measure T would have provided for an eight-year parcel tax of $130. Although the measure did win over 60% of the vote, it fell short by a little over 3%.

    Measure W aims at attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers; continuing advanced academic programs in science, technology, engineering, math, and arts that prepare students for success in college and careers; and maintaining manageable class sizes and restoring positions lost to budget cuts, especially teachers, counselors and school librarians.

    According to County Counsel’s impartial analysis, there are currently two existing AUHSD parcel taxes totaling $301 per parcel annually. If this measure passes, the total amount of annual parcel taxes would be $469 per parcel. Although Measure W would expire after eight years, the previous parcel taxes will not expire.

    Property owners who are residents in the district may apply for an exemption for the parcel tax, if passed. Those who would qualify for the exemption include those 65 years of age or older; those receiving Supplemental Security Income for a disability; and those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, whose yearly income does not exceed 250% of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Property that is otherwise exempt from property taxes will also be exempt from the parcel tax.

    Arguments in favor of Measure W state that while AUHSD’s four public high schools, Acalanes, Campolindo, Miramonte and Las Lomas, rate among the top 5% of high schools nationally, the district has had to cut $4.2 million from its budget in the past two years. The parcel tax will not fund administrators’ salaries and a Citizen’s Oversight as well as independent audits will ensure proper spending, according to proponents.

    Arguments against Measure W say that “the money is there. The priorities are wrong.” In support of that proposition, the opponents cite spending on Wellness Centers on each high-school campus; costly Central Administration; and non-academic diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programming. Opponents also argue that AUHSD teaches seniors an elective Deconstructing Race course that could put federal funding at risk, AUHSD voluntarily requires Ethnic Studies for graduation, though it is neither funded nor required by the state.

    Also on the ballot is Measure RTM. This regional measure would impose a tax of 0.5% in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and Santa Clara and 1.0% in the City and County of San Francisco. The tax would be in effect for 14 years and would not count toward the statutory limit on combined local sales tax rates.

    Because Measure RTM is a regional measure, all that is required for it to pass is a simple majority of the total combined votes across all five participating counties, that is 50% plus one. The stated purpose of the measure is “to generate approximately $980 million per year for 14 years to prevent catastrophic transit service cuts, preserve essential lifeline routes, maintain safety and cleanliness standards, and support the coordinated, reliable transit riders depend on.”

    Advocates of the measure warn that without this injection of funds, “we will experience significant and deep cuts to public transit systems including BART, AC Transit, Muni, and Caltrain — setting us back decades.” Last February, BART announced that if the measure fails up to 15 stations might be closed, including the BART station in Orinda.

    Proponents also state that “the consequences would impact everyone. Failure of the measure would force thousands of people every single day onto our already congested roads and freeways- worsening air pollution, making traffic jams start earlier and last longer, and resulting in most of us spending more time behind the wheel and less time home with our families.” The Regional Transit Measure would invest money directly into Contra Costa County communities, providing funding for transit improvements and road repaving.

    However, opponents of the measure warn that a no vote doesn’t have to shut down transit. They point to Grand Jury and Inspector General recommendations and urge transit agencies “to correct their history of mismanagement, control rapidly growing costs … and pursue alternatives before demanding nearly $17 billion more.”

    Opponents of the measure include former State Senator from Orinda Steve Glazer and Susan Candell, former Mayor of Lafayette.