"I Voted" stickers | AP Photo/Richard Vogel 'Split roll' backers to submit 1.7 million signatures for the November ballot

OAKLAND — Supporters of a “split roll” ballot measure aimed at increasing commercial property taxes say they’ll submit 1.7 million signatures in support of the effort Thursday — nearly twice the number needed to qualify for the November ballot.

Alex Stack, spokesperson for the coalition of labor, education and community groups backing the effort, said the 1.7 million signatures collected by volunteers and paid signature gatherers represent one of the largest such efforts ever mounted in California for a ballot measure. He said the signatures being submitted to county registrars Thursday for validation underscore "the momentum and support for this initiative" among a wide range of residents concerned about funding for education and community programs.


The Schools and Communities First organization needed to collect 997,139 signatures by mid-April to qualify for the November ballot.

In a possible preview of the campaign's messaging in a world stricken by the coronavirus, Stack said, “Now more than ever, we need to support those heroes on the front lines who have been caring for the most vulnerable, educating our children, and keeping Californians safe. The Schools and Communities First initiative puts more resources back in the hands of local leaders who best know how to address local needs and priorities.”

The measure by Schools and Communities First untethers large commercial properties from the landmark Proposition 13. It calls for reassessment of commercial and industrial properties valued over $3 million, but won’t change assessments for residential properties, agricultural properties or open space.

Supporters, including the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation, the California State PTA, the California Teachers Association and other labor groups, say the measure will raise as much as $12 billion annually for schools and communities.

Opponents, including the California Business Roundtable and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, say the “split roll” effort will endanger businesses and jobs in California, while resulting in higher costs for consumers.