City of Berkeley Measure AA — Initiative - Soda Tax Measure (Alameda County)

What it does

Shall the measure replacing the City's $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on the distribution of sugar-sweetened beverages with a $0.02 per fluid ounce special tax to fund public health, nutrition, and drinking water accessibility programs by nonprofits, the City, or Berkeley Unified School District, retaining current exemptions for small retailers, milk products, baby formula, alcoholic beverages, and medical and weight-loss products, estimated to generate approximately $2,200,000 annually, until repealed by the voters, be adopted?

A YES vote means

Berkeley's $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would be replaced by a $0.02 per ounce special tax for public health, nutrition and drinking water programs, raising about $2,200,000 a year.

A NO vote means

Berkeley's current $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would stay in place.

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

Left

YESNO

Right

A YES vote leans strongly left; a NO vote leans the other way (AI-estimated from the official ballot summary, 71% confidence).

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

This is an initiative ordinance for a sugar-sweetened beverage special tax; the Berkeley City Council submitted it to voters by Resolution No. 72,381-N.S., adopted July 14, 2026 by a 9-0 vote (Bartlett, Blackaby, Humbert, Kesarwani, Lunaparra, O'Keefe, Taplin, Tregub and Ishii), according to the resolution filed with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

According to the ballot question, the measure would replace the City's existing $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on distributing sugar-sweetened beverages with a $0.02 per ounce special tax dedicated to public health, nutrition and drinking water programs, estimated to raise about $2,200,000 a year until repealed by voters.

Put on the ballot by Initiative ordinance; submitted to voters by the Berkeley City Council, 9-0, July 14, 2026 (Resolution No. 72,381-N.S.).

From official source.

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• City of Alameda Measure M — Charter Amendment - Amend And Repeal Outdated Provisions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 S — Real Property Transfer 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 Emeryville Measure BB — Business Tax Measure

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Berkeley Measure AA mean?

Berkeley's $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would be replaced by a $0.02 per ounce special tax for public health, nutrition and drinking water programs, raising about $2,200,000 a year.

What does a NO vote on City of Berkeley Measure AA mean?

Berkeley's current $0.01 per fluid ounce general tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would stay in place.

How many votes does City of Berkeley Measure AA 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 Berkeley Measure AA?

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.