Laserfiche WebLink
The economic outlook for the City and the East Bay was positive through the third quarter of fiscal <br />year 2019-20. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders have profoundly <br />affected San Leandro businesses and residents. It is challenging to predict the depth and length of the <br />negative consequences on the economy, and significant uncertainty remains about the timing and <br />strength of an economic recovery. <br />The recession resulting from the global financial and credit market meltdown in late 2008 had a <br />direct and dramatic impact on the City’s local revenues. Since then the economy has rebound, and <br />the U.S. was in its longest economic expansion when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Due to low <br />housing inventory, home prices continued to appreciate even during the pandemic. The City’s <br />median home price was $694,000, a 7% increase from prior year. San Leandro’s unemployment rate <br />was 17.7%. This high unemployment rate was attributed to the shutdown of economic activities in <br />the last quarter of the fiscal year, though the rate improved after June 30, 2020. <br />The City’s General Fund supports basic municipal services, such as public safety, human services, <br />library and parks and recreation. Revenue to this critical fund, generated largely from sales and <br />property taxes, has grown to higher levels due to voter-approved tax measures in 2014 and 2016. <br />Instead of a usual growth, sales tax revenues decreased by 3% from the prior fiscal year due to the <br />COVID-19 pandemic. With the passage of Measure HH effective April 1, 2015, the half-cent sales <br />tax added $12.0 million sales tax revenue in fiscal year 2019-20. Property tax, a stable revenue <br />source, increased by 9% partly due to the increase in assessed value. Impacted by the rapid <br />shutdown of economic activities, real property transfer tax decreased by 29% from the prior fiscal <br />year. Fortunately, real property transfer tax is not one of the City’s top revenue sources and thus the <br />financial impact of this revenue source was limited. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, General <br />Fund revenues experienced a slight decrease from the prior fiscal year. <br />City operations are also supported by other funds, including major and non-major enterprise <br />(proprietary) funds. Major enterprise funds include the Water Pollution Control Plant and Shoreline <br />Enterprise Funds. Both funds experienced decline in revenues over the prior fiscal year due to the <br />COVID-19 pandemic. The Water Pollution Control Plant Enterprise fund was established to account <br />for the City’s sewers, which protect public health and preserve water quality through collection, <br />treatment, and disposal of the community’s wastewater. Program revenues to this fund in 2019-20 <br />totaled $13.7 million, a 4% decrease from the prior fiscal year. The Shoreline Enterprise Fund was <br />established in 2002-03 by combining the Marina and the Golf Course Funds. Program revenues to <br />this fund in 2019-20 totaled $1.7 million, a 13% decrease from the prior fiscal year. <br />Like many other cities in California, the City faces increases in operating expenses partly due to <br />rising pension costs. The City continues to implement strategies to control costs and identify viable <br />revenue options. The City is also committed to funding its unfunded pension and other post- <br />employment benefits (OPEB) liabilities. Authorized by the City Council, the City continues to set <br />aside funds in the Prioritization Unfunded Liability Liquidation (PULL) Plan to reduce its unfunded <br />liabilities. <br />Long-term Perspective <br />The City adopts a biennial budget employing long-term planning as the framework for fiscal <br />decisions. While San Leandro’s underlying economy is viewed as positive in the long-term, today’s <br />economic challenges, notably in the General Fund, must be dealt with now to ensure long-term fiscal <br />vii96