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File Number: 18-572 <br />estimate is based on the estimates of existing parcel tax information derived from 2010 census <br />data. Nevertheless, given the inherent complexity of parcel taxes and the technical expertise <br />necessary to fully evaluate them, it would be crucial for the City to retain the assistance of a <br />financial consultant in advance of placing such a measure on the ballot. <br />Overview of Real Property Transfer Tax <br />Another potential revenue option that the City Council may consider for study is an increase in the <br />real property transfer tax. Such a tax is imposed at the point of sale or transfer of any real property <br />within the City. The current rate in San Leandro is $6.00 per thousand dollars in valuation (or <br />0.6%), which is among the lowest rates in Alameda County. Presuming the revenues derived from <br />such a tax increase were dedicated to general City services, such a tax would require a simple <br />majority vote of the electorate to pass. If the voters were to authorize adjusting this tax from its <br />current rate of $6 to $11 (which is slightly below the regional average), staff conservatively <br />estimates that at least $3 million in new annual revenue could be collected, based on current rates <br />of property turnover. However, it is important to highlight that real property transfer taxes are also <br />cyclical in nature and typically tied to broader regional economic cycles. Copied below is a <br />summary of the current real property transfer tax rates of other cities in Alameda County: <br />City Tax Rate <br />Alameda $12.00 per thousand on full value (1.2%) <br />Albany $11.50 per thousand on full value (1.15%) <br />Berkeley*$15.00 per thousand on full value (1.5%) <br />Emeryville $12.00 per thousand on full value (1.2%) <br />Hayward**$4.50 per thousand on full value (4.5%) <br />Oakland***$15.00 per thousand on full value (1.5%) <br />Piedmont $13.00 per thousand on full value (1.3%) <br />San Leandro $6.00 per thousand on full value (0.6%) <br /> <br />*The City of Berkeley’s November 2018 ballot included a proposal to increase the tax rate from <br />$15 to $25 per $1,000 in valuation for properties valued over $1.5 million, known as Measure P. <br />This measure was successfully endorsed by 70.59% of voters. <br />**The City of Hayward’s November 2018 ballot included a proposal to increase the tax rate from <br />$4.50 to $8.50 per $1,000 in valuation, known as Measure T. This measure was successfully <br />endorsed by 57.96% of voters. <br />***The City of Oakland’s November 2018 ballot measure included a proposal (Measure X) to <br />reduce the rate to $10 per $1,000 in valuation for properties selling for $300,000 or less and <br />increase it to $17.50 per $1,000 in valuation for properties selling for more than $2 million and <br />$25 per $1,000 in valuation for properties selling for more than $5 million. This measure was <br />successfully endorsed by 66.54% of voters. <br />The list above is limited to charter cities, which have the authority to authorize property transfer <br />taxes above the state mandated rates. Of note, the City of Union City had a measure on the 2018 <br />ballot that would have made the City a charter city and concurrently passed and increased <br />transfer tax. That measure was not successful. <br />Page 5 City of San Leandro Printed on 11/13/2018