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8 <br />surpassed our goal, and now have over $17 million set aside. By holding on to revenues during <br />good times, we make it easier to survive the down times. <br /> <br />In the next few years, the City Council and I – in partnership with our employees, will continue <br />identifying solutions. We need to be competitive in attracting talent, while controlling costs. And <br />fortunately, there are other options. <br /> <br />The City has held the line on staffing and expense increases. As you can see here, our staffing <br />is actually 15% lower than a decade ago. And although there is constant pressures from the <br />public, our staff, and even our Council to add services, we believe that fiscal prudence is <br />paramount. Our staff is very literally “doing more with less.” and I am grateful for the pride and <br />professionalism they bring to their jobs. <br /> <br />I am also pleased that staff from every City department has devoted significant time over the <br />past year to identify budget strategies to maximize our efficiency. This included identifying <br />creative options to enhance our revenues. They have been going line by line over every single <br />item in the budget in search of savings. <br /> <br />A way to strengthen our finances is to ensure that we have a thriving local economy. As I <br />mentioned earlier, we have added over 6,000 jobs in recent years. This growth translates to <br />stronger finances for the City, yet it does place greater demand on our services. <br /> <br />A strong economy translates to more revenue – especially sales tax. On this slide, you can see <br />how San Leandro is doing. Every bar above 100 shows a sector where people are coming from <br />other places to spend their money in San Leandro. <br /> <br />Our cost increases can’t be addressed with economic growth alone. If we’re going to pay our <br />bills without cuts to valued services, we also need to look at new revenues. <br /> <br />Nobody likes to see tax increases, but fortunately, the San Leandro community has been willing <br />to consider them when they are needed to maintain service levels and address critical needs. <br /> <br />The City Council is currently looking at several options, including an increase in property <br />transfer tax. We currently have the lowest transfer tax of any charter City in Alameda County. <br />This one-time tax is charged only when properties are sold, but has the potential to bring in <br />millions of dollars for essential services. <br /> <br />We’ve also had some discussions about a parcel tax for public safety services. Police and Fire <br />services comprise over 60% of our City budget, and new funding would help us maintain the <br />high level of service. This measure could also allow strategic investments and new <br />technologies. <br />