"Measure W, which increased the county's sales tax by 0.5% for 10 years. Measure W was narrowly passed by voters in 2020 but held up for years by a lawsuit filed by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association. The association sought to void the measure and prevent the county from collecting and using the tax money. After the legal matter was resolved, county officials decided last summer to use 80% of the funds on homeless programs and housing, and the rest on other essential services."
"The 10 projects awarded funds on Tuesday, and another Oakland building that got Measure W money in January, aren't brand new proposals. The projects are what the government calls shovel-ready or close - in a position to apply for state money or tax credits and break ground soon."
"While it was stuck in court, Measure W brought in $810 million, which the county held in escrow."
Alameda County's Board of Supervisors approved $53 million in funding from Measure W for ten affordable housing projects. Measure W, a 0.5% sales tax increase passed in 2020, generated $810 million held in escrow during a legal challenge by the Alameda County Taxpayers Association. After the lawsuit was resolved, the county designated 80% of Measure W funds for homeless programs and housing. The approved projects are shovel-ready developments positioned to apply for state funding and begin construction soon. Five projects are in Oakland, two in Berkeley, with additional projects in Livermore and Alameda, ranging from $3.65 million to $8.1 million in individual awards.
Read at The Oaklandside
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