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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: June 21, 2010 <br />TO: City Council <br />FROM: Stephen Hollister, City Manager <br />APPROVED AND <br />FORWARDED <br />TO CITY COUNCIL <br />~:6~ <br />Stephen Hollister <br />City Manager <br />BY: Lianne Marshall, Assistant City Manager' <br />Jacquelyn Diaz, Deputy City Manager <br />SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: <br />MATTER OF DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR CITY COUNCIL <br />CONSIDERATION PERTAINING TO PLACEMENT OF A PROPOSED '/4 CENT SALES <br />TAX REVENUE MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 2010 BALLOT. <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION <br />The purpose of this report is to request the City Council direct staff to prepare the required <br />documents needed for placing a '/4 cent sales tax revenue measure on the November 2010 ballot, <br />and bring the information for consideration at the July 19, 2010 City Council meeting. <br />BACKGROUND <br />At the June 7~` meeting, the City Council adopted the 2010-2011 Budget. As referenced in the <br />document, the Council has identified as a goal to maintain fiscal sustainability. As we enter the <br />third year of an unprecedented economic down-turn, revenues have plummeted by $11.6 million <br />over the last four years, and the State has taken more than $7 million of local revenues to address its <br />own fiscal situation. Despite making drastic cuts of $6.9 million in spending, the general fund <br />budget has an operating deficit of $3 million and general fund reserves are nearly depleted. If <br />additional revenue is not identified in the next six months, the City will have to make at least an <br />additional $3 million in cuts. <br />The City's 2010-2011 budget development process began in Fall 2009 in the midst of a difficult <br />economic climate. During the budget development process, the Finance Committee met monthly to <br />remain informed about revenue reports and recommended reductions to personnel and services; in <br />addition, several Council work sessions were held to provide status updates on the efforts at <br />balancing the budget with continued downward revenues. A poll was conducted in August 2009 to <br />obtain feedback regarding City service priorities and to consider any potential for increasing <br />revenues. In October 2009, the Council appointed a Citizen's Budget Task Force to help identify <br />priorities for services for budget development; additionally a community feedback survey was <br />mailed out to residents-with more than. 1,000 residents sharing their, service priorities-and staff <br />attended over 25 community meetings to inform the community and obtain feedback. Throughout <br />the various meetings and work sessions, there have been discussions by the Council and community <br />