Laserfiche WebLink
City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: November 19, 2018 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:18-572 ACTION ITEMS <br />Agenda Number:10.B. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Jeff Kay <br />City Manager <br />BY:City Council <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Not Applicable <br />TITLE:Staff Report for Request for City Council Direction Regarding Polling for <br />Potential Future Revenue Measures that Require Voter Approval <br />BACKGROUND <br />In November 2010, San Leandro voters authorized Measure Z, a local ¼-cent general sales tax <br />revenue measure that was designed to temporarily stabilize the City budget in the midst of the <br />Great Recession. Measure Z provided a reliable, voter-approved funding source for public safety <br />and other essential City services for seven years. As Measure Z approached expiration, San <br />Leandro voters authorized its extension at a half-cent rate for 30 years through passage of <br />Measure HH in November 2014. Measure HH is currently generating approximately $10 million <br />per year in general fund revenue. <br />While Measure HH enables the City to maintain existing service levels, the City continues to face <br />a growing backlog of new and emerging needs that may not be sufficiently addressed through <br />existing revenue sources. Such needs include major renovations to aging public safety <br />infrastructure (e.g. police and fire protection facilities), deteriorating playground and park <br />equipment in need of replacement, growing and human services challenges related to the <br />homeless and other at-risk and low-income communities. <br />Although local sales tax receipts in recent years have been robust, sales tax is an inherently <br />volatile source of revenue that will generally rise and fall in direct correlation to broader regional <br />economic cycles. When the economy inevitably slows down or contracts in future years, the City’s <br />revenue base could similarly face steep declines, given that approximately 40% of general fund <br />revenues are now dependent on sales tax receipts. Such a decline could cause consideration of <br />significant future budget cuts and associated disruptions to current service levels. A diversified <br />revenue base is essential to maintain the sustainability of the City’s budget. <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 11/13/2018