Jared Clark, an Oakland Fire Station 24 paramedic, checks his equipment in 2021. The city’s budget problems could force it to cut funding to the fire and police departments.

On April 15, Oakland voters will be asked to weigh in on Measure A, which would increase the city’s sales tax from 10.25% to 10.75%, generating approximately $30 million annually for the general fund.

There’s little question Oakland is short on cash. The city has to close an $87 million budget hole by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. It then has to navigate a predicted $140 million annual shortfall going forward. That could potentially mean extreme cuts to the police and fire departments — even though Oakland just passed a parcel tax last November, Measure NN, to fund their expansion.

Measure A will not come close to bridging these deficits. Hard decisions will need to be made in the coming months — decisions city leaders have been aware of for years, yet have done seemingly everything in their power to avoid. This includes their willingness to squander a generational opportunity by using one-time proceeds from selling its share of the Oakland Coliseum to temporarily plug budget holes instead of undertaking tense negotiations with city employees.........

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