Join the Campaign for a Safer Cubberley and a Stronger Palo Alto

This is a general tax. How do we know the city will spend the money on Cubberley?

The city has passed a resolution (see above) committing to using these funds on Cubberley redevelopment. The city has a long and well-documented track record of designating funds for a specific use and ensuring future city councils follow through with those commitments. In 2018, Palo Alto proposed an increase in the hotel tax in the city to fund infrastructure projects such as the new public safety building, the bike bridge over 101 and several fire stations which have or are coming online, as committed. In 2022, the city proposed the establishment of a business tax that would be spent in three major buckets - affordable housing, safety, and rail crossing safety. In each of these commitments, there is oversight via annual audits and the regular budget reporting process.

 

Additionally, the city has indicated they plan to borrow against the anticipated revenue from this tax and will repay the debt obligation each year with the revenue Measure J provides. Borrowing through a bond or similar structure right away will allow the city to complete the sale of the property, finalize plans, and begin the safety and infrastructure upgrades, as the non-profit partners begin their fundraising campaigns.

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How do I know funds from Measure J would be used responsibly?

By law, 100% of funds must stay in Palo Alto — nothing can be taken or redirected by the State or Federal Governments. Independent financial audits are required. 

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Why a sales tax?

The city council has worked to create multiple funding streams to fund the redevelopment of Cubberley in order to minimize the tax burden of this extensive work. While the measure calls for a 0.5% tax on non-essentials, approximately 40% of that will be paid by visitors to our community. Palo Alto residents know that we invest in parks, pickleball courts, and other amenities and they are an attraction from residents from all around the region. This structure ensures that when people come into our community to take advantage of our wonderful amenities, they also help fund those amenities. Additionally, the city has partnered with several non-profits that plan to run their own capital campaigns to help invest in these renovations. This will further reduce the cost obligation to Palo Alto taxpayers. Finally, the city has discussed the possibility of approaching community members with capacity who will assist with creating additional amenities for the whole community. All of these funding streams help us redevelop this prized community center while limiting the obligation of the Palo Alto residents.

 

Were other options explored?

Yes. The Palo Alto community has struggled for many years to develop and move forward on a future for the Cubberley Community Center, which the city has leased for over 35 years. A (first) master plan was created in 1992 because it was already understood that the site needed upgrades to provide a safe and more optimal configuration for community needs.

 

The site remained owned by the school district and leased by the city. The two parties struggled to develop and move forward on a future for the Cubberley site. The city was apprehensive about making significant investments into a site it didn’t own, while the school district was not yet ready to sell the land and lose the option to build a school there in the future. The city and school district reached a historic agreement in 2024 for the city to buy 7 acres of land from the school district, contingent on voter approval of a measure that would fund the purchase. This purchase ensures that the city can invest significantly into the repairs and upgrades needed at Cubberley.

 

A sales tax measure was the most viable means of making meaningful improvements to the Cubberley Community Center that strengthen emergency preparedness, affordable community gathering and recreation space, pothole repair, access to parks and greenery, and more. Additionally, if Measure J is approved, the Cubberley Center will be able to leverage nonprofit resources, public-private partnerships, and fees from new development in order to stretch local tax dollars further.
 

What’s going to be at Cubberley? Are there concrete plans for this entire project?

The city has shared their conceptual master plan for the site on this website, which include increased outdoor/green space and a combination of renovations to existing buildings and replacement of buildings based on financial and structural feasibility. The Recreation Wellness Center / Gym and theatre and performing arts complex will be constructed in partnership and with financial contributions from the Friends of the Recreation and Wellness Center and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. 

 

The Master Plan outlines a phased approach to minimize disruption and to limit the burden on the community. While the plan provides a distinct layout of the site and identifies potential future features and amenities, it remains an adaptable framework that may evolve as future project phases advance. Each phase could include sub-phases depending on funding availability, partnership opportunities, and implementation readiness.

 

Because there are many partners who are planning to play a part in the redevelopment, a significant part of the work of the city will be to oversee coordination of many projects.

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Why is the district demanding $65.5M from the city before we do this work? Since taxpayers fund both bodies, can’t the property just be transferred?

The City and the District are separate government agencies with separate budgets, separate legal restrictions on their funds, and—importantly—different taxpayers. PAUSD's boundaries include Stanford and portions of Los Altos Hills, so many of the taxpayers who support our schools are not City of Palo Alto residents at all. A free transfer would ask those families to hand a valuable public asset to a city they don't live in. School board trustees are fiduciaries with a legal duty to obtain fair value for district property; they can no more gift land to the City than they could sell a school site to a private developer at a discount.

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How was the price arrived on and what was the appraised value?​

The city and school district released a statement about the appraised values and negotiation process resulting in the 2024 agreement between the two parties.

 

What will the school district do with the money?

Every dollar will go into school facilities. None of it can be spent on administration or overhead. On August 18, 2026, the Board of Education passed a resolution directing the sale proceeds into Fund 40, the Special Reserve Fund for Capital Outlay Projects, which is legally restricted to facilities investments. In practice, that means the proceeds will fund improvements to school campuses that would otherwise be paid for by a future facilities bond—allowing the District to reduce the size of its next bond ask, dollar for dollar. These dollars are doing double work for the community: they will deliver a renovated community center for the city, and lower what the District will need to ask of taxpayers down the road.

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What if this doesn’t pass? What happens to Cubberley?

The sale wouldn’t occur, and the community would lose the most realistic path to a safe, renovated Cubberley. Several buildings on the site are near the end of their usable life, and without this sale, the District and City would soon face difficult safety decisions about whether some of them can remain open for community use at all. Since state law limits school bond funds to school construction, the District can’t legally invest school dollars in a community center. As stewards of District resources, the Board would then have to evaluate all responsible options for the property, including inquiries it has already received from other institutions, such as private schools, interested in purchasing or leasing the site for their own campuses. The Board has been clear about its strong preference: a sale to the City, so that Cubberley remains what it has been for generations: a shared community resource for all Palo Altans.

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How long will Measure J be in place? 

If approved, Measure J would provide local funding until ended by voters. 

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When will I be able to vote on Measure J?

All Palo Alto residents will have the opportunity to vote on Measure J on the November 3, 2026, ballot. Everyone will receive a ballot in the mail the first week of October.

 

What level of support does Measure J need to pass?

Measure J will need 50%+1 support of those who vote on it in order to pass.

 

I’m not registered to vote. Where can I get registered?

To register to vote please visit https://registertovote.ca.gov/

 

You can also fill out a paper registration form and submit the form in person or by mail.

 

Paper registration forms are available at the Registrar of Voters Office, U.S. Post Offices, Public Libraries, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and other government offices. Signed & completed forms must be returned in person or by mail. They cannot be faxed or e-mailed.

 

Address:  Registrar of Voters, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, CA 95112

Mailing Address:  Registrar of Voters, P.O. Box 611300, San Jose, CA 95161-1300​

 

How can I get involved with the campaign? 

In order to run a strong campaign, we need a well-funded, grassroots team of volunteers, endorsers, and supporters who are passionate about building a stronger community. To get involved in our campaign, please fill out our Get Involved! form. We look forward to campaigning with you!

What if I have more specific questions for the City?

For additional questions and more information about Measure J please visit https://www.paloalto.gov/City-Hall/Hot-Topics/Palo-Alto-Community-SafetyServices-Measure.