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6. ENHANCING THE LOCAL TAX BASE The objective of this strategy area is to use economic development as a tool to help ensure that the City has the resources necessary to provide the public with high quality services. This is an important element of the EDAC's vision for A Sustainable Communit'N. because of the importance of good local services in maintaining the City's desirability as a location for economic activities. In addition. by defining a clear role for downtown San Leandro as a center for community retail to complement other regional and neighborhood retail centers. this strategy area also furthers the EDAC's vision for A Vibrant Downtown. Local residents and businesses rely upon the City of San Leandro to provide critical da\ - to-dav services. which are necessary to maintain the local quality of life. These services are paid for primarily through tax revenues generated locally. Two major sources of general discretionary City revenues which can be used to finance municipal services are sales tax and property tax. Without healthy revenues from these two sources. the CM would undoubtedly need to cut back spending on a range of municipal services. The three categories of actions described below. Retail Sales Taxes. Non -Retail Sales Taxes. and Other Revenue Sources. focus on steps the City can take to maximize revenue potential from the two primary components of sales tax. retail sales tax and non -retail sales tax. and from property taxes and other miscellaneous general revenue sources. Retail Sales Tax Retail sales taxes are generated when shoppers purchase taxable goods in retail stores. Of the total sales tax. an amount equal to approximatelv one percent of the total taxable value is allocated back to the local jurisdiction in which the sale occurs. By attracting shoppers from outside the local community to purchase retail goods in local stores. the Citv has the opportunity to increase local revenues without increasing the tax burden on local residents and businesses. ` Efforts to enhance local sales tax revenues through promotion of regional -serving retail activities should occur as part of a citywide retail strategy that utilizes retail sites for their highest and best uses. as outlined belo%V: • Regional Retail. Regional retail uses should be concentrated in locations that provide convenient access to 1-880. These locations will minimize the need for shoppers to traverse local streets and the adverse impacts that accompany increased traffic volumes while maximizing retailer exposure to the regional traffic that travels the 1-880 corridor on a daily basis. In addition. this will tend to cluster the regional retail development in locations where regional retail activities are already present. creating synergy between existing and new stores. 47 25�