City of Albany Measure S — Real Property Transfer Tax Measure (Alameda County)

What it does

To support City of Albany general services, with funding that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including: street and park maintenance, recreation, public safety, and environmental programs, shall a measure adjusting the City's real property transfer tax rate from $15.00 to between $10.00 and $30.00 per $1,000 purchased, depending upon the property's purchase price, providing an additional $1,000,000 annually, until ended by voters, with all funds remaining local be adopted?

A YES vote means

Albany's real property transfer tax would change from $15.00 to between $10.00 and $30.00 per $1,000, depending on the purchase price, raising about $1,000,000 more a year for general services until ended by voters.

A NO vote means

Albany's real property transfer tax would stay at $15.00 per $1,000.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The Albany City Council placed this measure on the ballot by Resolution No. 2026-64, adopted unanimously on July 20, 2026, according to the resolution filed with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

According to the resolution, the ordinance would change the city's real property transfer tax from a flat 1.5% of value transferred ($15 per $1,000) to a five-tier structure based on the purchase price, and the revenue is a general tax deposited for general municipal purposes.

The ballot question estimates about $1,000,000 in additional annual revenue for services such as street and park maintenance, recreation, public safety and environmental programs; as a general tax, it requires a simple majority.

Put on the ballot by Albany City Council, unanimous, July 20, 2026 (Resolution No. 2026-64).

From official source.

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Also on Alameda County ballots

• City of Alameda Measure L — GO Bond Measure
• City of Alameda Measure M — Charter Amendment - Amend And Repeal Outdated Provisions
• City of Alameda Measure N — Charter Amendment - Leases And Sales Of Real Property Measure
• City of Albany Measure O — Requirement To Zoning Changes Measure
• City of Albany Measure P — Street Paving And Storm Drain Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure Q — EMS, ALS, Fire Protection Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure R — Business License Tax Measure
• City of Albany Measure T — Street Trees & Streetlighting Parcel Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure U — Bond Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure V — Sales Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure W — Charter Amendment Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure X — Rent Ordinance Amendment Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure Y — Initiative - Arts Tax Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure Z — Initiative - Public Bank Measure
• City of Berkeley Measure AA — Initiative - Soda Tax Measure
• City of Emeryville Measure BB — Business Tax Measure

All Alameda County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Albany Measure S mean?

Albany's real property transfer tax would change from $15.00 to between $10.00 and $30.00 per $1,000, depending on the purchase price, raising about $1,000,000 more a year for general services until ended by voters.

What does a NO vote on City of Albany Measure S mean?

Albany's real property transfer tax would stay at $15.00 per $1,000.

How many votes does City of Albany Measure S need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Albany Measure S?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.