F i s c a l Y e a r 2 0 2 0 / 2 1 - M e a s u r e S
City Management
Damien O’Bid, City Manager
Michael Parish, Chief of Police
Angela Courter, Director of Admin Services
Noah Housh, Director of Community Development
Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
Lauren Berges, City Clerk
John Bakker, City Attorney
City Officials and Staff
Members of the Council
Laura Sparks - Councilmember
Mark Landman - Vice Mayor
Ben Ford - Councilmember
Susan Harvey - Councilmember
John C. Moore - Mayor
Measure G Oversight Board
James O’Rourke
Arianne Eskew
Marjorie Crump-Shears
Kimberlyn Moffet
Kenneth Savano
City of Cotati
201 W. Sierra Ave.
Cotati CA 94931
1 GET TO KNOW YOUR VOTER
APPROVED TAX MEASURE
WHY DID THE CITY COUNCIL PLACE MEASURE S ON THE BALLOT IN 2020? In response to the severe economic recession and the State redistribution of funding through the Redevelopment Dissolution, the City aggressively cut expenses, including a 28% reduction in staffing, elimination of the Recreation Department, voluntary staff salary cut of 14%, cut back or elimination of all contract services, and a general 11% reduction in General Fund expenditures. At that time, the City also was a leader in the state in establishing a new benefit and pension tier for new employees, to reduce future expenses.
In addition to the cuts in expenses, in 2009 the voters of Cotati also approved Measure A, a ½-cent sales tax for 5 years to maintain basic City services through the recession. Even with the additional revenue from Measure A and the City cuts in expenses, the unexpected loss of funding because of the State dissolution of Redevelopment, coupled with a much slower than expected economic recovery, resulted in the City being able to only maintain basic services with no capacity for non-emergency projects. As Measure A was nearing its expiration, the City was again facing the possibility of losing our locally controlled Police Department, and the very viability to continue as a city separate from Rohnert Park or the County was a deep concern.
In response, the City Council declared a State of Emergency on February 11, 2014, putting Measure G on the ballot.
On June 3, 2014, the voters of Cotati passed Measure G, the Cotati Essential City Services Measure.
At the time Measure G was placed on the ballot, the State had taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds from Cotati’s budget, which directly affected the General Fund. The General Fund supports all the basic functions of a city including police services, road maintenance, park maintenance, and other essential city services. Just like most cities in California, the economic downturn and declining property values dramatically reduced sales tax and property tax revenues in Cotati.
In 2020, with the continued economic crisis around the Covid-19 epidemic, the City once again took the same Measure to the community. This new Measure S continued existing, voter-approved locally controlled funding with no increase in tax rate. Measure S funding would continue to stay local, and none could be taken by the State.
Cotati City Hall
2 HOW MUCH DOES A 1-PERCENT SALES TAX COST ME?
A 1-percent sales tax adds $1 on a $100 purchase for some purchases. Purchases such as food and medicine are exempted from the sales tax. Some of the largest sales tax sources in Cotati include Lowes, Oliver’s Market, and our gas stations, collect a significant portion of their sales taxes from visitors to Cotati, which benefits our residents and the visitors who use the City services and infrastructure. The revenue from Measure S is used to protect the essential services Cotati residents rely on and assist in the implementation of key improvements desired by the community.
DO FUNDS FROM MEASURE S STAY IN COTATI?
Yes. Measure S funds stay local and ensure that this local funding source cannot be taken by the State and can only be spent for Cotati and its residents.
WHAT DOES THIS LOCAL SOURCE OF FUNDING PROVIDE FOR COTATI? The City of Cotati uses the funds from Measure S to maintain essential City services for our community. Essential City services include the core services needed to run a City, including improved community services, preserving our local police department, recreational opportunities, and maintenance of public
infrastructure, including streets and pothole repair. With the additional public safety funding, it also increases the number of officers on duty and helps maintain crime prevention and investigation services. Measure S can also be used to leverage grant funds and key infrastructure projects such as street maintenance, storm drain maintenance, and improvements to parks and other City facilities.
WHAT OVERSIGHT PROVISIONS ARE IN PLACE?
The City has established an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee that meets annually to review expenditures for Measure S and help make sure that every penny supports voter-approved priorities. This committee is an advisory body comprised of five members that are appointed by the City Council in a public process. Their involvement will help ensure that funds will continue to be spent responsibly on services provided by the City for purposes that benefit the citizens of Cotati.
Additionally, all receipts of funds and expenditures are subject to audit by an independent auditing firm. The audited statements of revenues and uses are included within the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the excerpted statement is included within this annual report.
Cotati Police Department
3 WHAT MAKES UP THE TOTAL SALES TAX RATE?
As of June 30, 2021, the total sales tax rate in Cotati was 9.50% and is broken down as follows:
California Sales and Use Tax Rates as of April 1, 2021
State 6.000%
County Transportation Funds 0.250%
Local-City of Cotati (Bradley Burns) 1.000%
Total State-Wide Sales and Use Tax Rate 7.250%
County* 1.500%
Measure S (formally Measure G) 1.000%
Total Sales Tax Rate in Cotati 9.500%
Detail of County Special Taxes
Sonoma County Library Maintenance Restoration Enhancement Act (SCLM) 0.125% Sonoma County Parks & Safety TT (SCPS) 0.125%
Sonoma County Mental Health & Homeless Services (SOMT) 0.250% Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) 0.250%
Fractional Code - SMART in Sonoma County (SMRT) 0.250%
Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District (SAPD) 0.250% Total 1.500%
State-Sales and
Use Tax, 6.00%
State-County
Transportation
Funds, 0.25%
Local-City of Cotati
(Bradley Burns),
1.00%
County-Various
Special Sales
Taxes, 1.25%
Local-Measure S,
1.00%
BREAKDOWN OF COTATI SALES TAX RATE
4 Cumulative Funding of Programs
5 SUMMARY OF PUBLIC BENEFIT
In 2020/21 the City received $2,942,546 in Measure S funding. The passage of Measure S continues to stabilize the City budget and allowed the City to deliver on the expectations and desires of our community. This includes enhanced services in public safety and infrastructure maintenance, as well as bringing back Recreation Programming, and is the reason the City can make significant investments in streets repaving, traffic safety, and building and park improvements.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Without a positive sense of public safety in our community, it can be difficult to bring in new business or families.
Measure S continues to enable the City to preserve our own Police Department by funding core operations and enabling key improvements to public safety, including hiring a full-time police officer and adding a traffic officer assignment starting in FY 2014/15. The City also added a Police Services Aide and a full-time dispatcher, as well as continuing to fund ongoing departmental operations. Maintaining the local police department also opened the opportunity to provide emergency dispatch services to Sonoma State University. The revenue from this shared services agreement has also allowed the hiring and continuation of an additional police officer and a part time dispatcher since FY 2017/18.
Other elements of the public safety program are intended to improve community safety. This includes things such as street safety and lighting projects.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2020/21 was to continue to improve the overall level of public safety services in the City while supporting continued covid operations. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Public Safety Program:
1. The City continued to fund ongoing operations to preserve our local Police Department.
2. Purchase of back up emergency equipment, including portable fueling trailer and towable generator to ensure continuous backup power during emergencies.
3. Update critical IT systems including evidence room computer, server room cooling systems, and Cell Phone Network Extender.
4. Preparation and response to the continued COVID-19 shutdowns, management of traffic safety program coordinated through the California Office Of Traffic Safety and work on Local Hazard Mitigation Plans.
5. Continued investments in traffic safety with the construction of an all way stop for West Sierra and West School Street as well as two upgraded pedestrian crossings on West Sierra at Water Road and Cypress. 6 STREET, SIDEWALK, AND STORM DRAINAGE
The community expects and depends on well-maintained city streets, streetlights, traffic signals, sidewalks, and storm drains. Well-maintained roadways are safer and improve the visual appeal of our city. It is critical to be able to leverage available grants to bring in additional funds to benefit our community. In addition, to save money overall, it is critical to fund road maintenance early to prevent expensive repairs and reconstruction of our streets later.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2020/21 was to complete outstanding projects while continuing to invest in new improvements, all of which benefit the City with improved levels of maintenance in the streets, sidewalks, and storm drain systems. In any given fiscal year, construction projects will often carry across fiscal years, as the June 30 fiscal year end is in the middle of the construction season. Therefore, it is expected that each year the ratio of services and capital projects/equipment will fluctuate with the timing of project construction.
The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Street, Sidewalk, and Storm Drain Program:
1. Continued funding of ongoing and improved services, including the full-time civil engineer, and continuing enhanced traffic signal, streetlight, and roadway landscape maintenance.
2. Expanded design of the School Street Pathway on Richardson Lane to provide a safe pathway for children to walk to and from school at Thomas Page Academy. Having Measure S as a matching source, Sonoma County made additional grant matching funds available from their Community Development Block Grants.
3. Completed construction for the 2020 streets improvement project which resurfaced La Plaza, Henry Street, Charles Street, West Cotati Avenue and West Sierra Avenue.
4. Designed and started construction on the 2021 slurry streets improvement project and initiated design for the West Side Streets improvement project which will continue in construction through winter 2021/22.
5. Began design for phase two Wayfinding Signage and Gateway signage program. 7 PARKS AND LANDSCAPING
The City operates and maintains many public parks, including La Plaza Park, Falletti Park, Draper Park, Kotate Park, Sunflower Park, Delano Park, Putnam Park, Mini Park, and the Santero Way Park. Parks provide key recreational opportunities for our residents, are local landmarks, and provide a venue for numerous community events.
The City Council’s focus during FY 2020/21 was to continue to improve the overall level of maintenance; improve existing facilities; and add high impact/low-cost safety improvements and amenities. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Park/Landscape Program:
1. Funded ongoing operations, including the cost of a full-time maintenance worker.
2. Initiate design work for the Kotate Park playground and picnic areas, as the first of many capital projects from the Parks Capital Plan.
3. Finalizing the construction on the Veronda-Falletti Ranch House and Water Tower.
4. Funding Operations and Maintenance at the Veronda-Falletti Ranch.
5. Improve parks with new wood chips in playgrounds, new sand for volleyball courts, and vegetation clearing at both Pocket Park and the greenbelt at Lasalle Ave.
6. Continued conducting of Creek Cleanups.
8 PUBLIC BUILDING
The City operates and maintains several public buildings to conduct public meetings and provide core services to the community, including City Hall, Ray Miller Community Center and Cotati Room, Public Works Corporation Yard, Police Department and the Cotati Train Depot.
The City Council’s primary focus during FY 2020/21 was to continue to improve the overall level of maintenance of the City Buildings. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under the Public Building Program:
1. Funded ongoing building operational costs.
2. Continued to fund building official inspection services and code enforcement.
3. Funded maintenance and repairs of building equipment.
4. Continued design and initial construction on the Civic Center refurbishment project including the reroofing of the Community Center.
9 RECREATION
During the recession and the ensuing budget cuts, the City’s Recreation Programs were eliminated. Since then, it has been a goal of the City Council to bring back the Recreation Department once the City was financially able to support this program. The Recreation Department includes a variety of classes, workshops, camps and events for all ages, as well as management of city facilities and parks for public use. The Recreation Department provides an opportunity to bring the public together for positive, healthy activities and provide a sense of community. The following is a summary of Measure S expenditures under Recreation for FY 2020/21:
1. Funded full-time Recreation Manager, Recreation and Facilities Coordinator as well as seasonal employment for up to six part-time camp staff to assist with special recreation programs.
2. Produced a completely redesigned activity guide for both the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
3. Funded all services and supplies needed to support the growing programs. In Fiscal Year 2020/21 , the following is a summary of Recreation programming and events:
a. Bunny Brunch To-Go
b. Staffed Free Children’s Summer Lunch
Program
c. Cotati Candyland downtown trick or
treating event
d. Promote & support Cotati Shop & Stroll
e. Promote & support Cotati Farmers
Market
f. Bunny Grams
g. Valentine Grams
h. Counselor in Training Program
i. Community Yard Sale
j. Drive in Movies
k. Movies in the Park
l. Promote & Support National Night Out
m. Holiday Tree Lighting
n. Breakfast with Santa
o. Promote & support the bike-to-work day
p. Contracted camps including Several
Farmster Camp Programs at Falletti
Ranch
Farmers Market
Camp Cotati Love Your Neighbor Week
Bunny Brunch To-Go
10 SUMMARY
In FY 2020/21 , the City undertook a total of $1,464,534 in ongoing and improved services and $1,478,012 in capital improvements and equipment. During this fiscal year, the focus was on continued preparation for large capital projects for construction, as well as completion of key projects which started during fiscal year 2019/20.
The City is proud of the safety improvements made as well as the streets improvements made throughout the 2020 Street Paving Project and West Sierra Street Improvements. The City looks forward to using Measure S to continue to provide many more critical infrastructure projects as well as continued improved services to our citizens.
Measure S continues to be critical for funding essential city services and infrastructure projects. Additionally, the City is actively working to promote economic development within Cotati to expand and diversify the tax base to provide more long-term revenue stability. The combination of dedicated local revenue from Measure S and a growing local economy provide the local revenue to deliver the services and infrastructure that the citizens of Cotati desire.
Emergency Equipment
Bike to Work
11 Measure S
Financial Summary
12 FY 2014/15 FY 2015/16 FY 2016/17 FY 2017/18 FY 2018/19 FY 2019/20 FY 2020/21 Combined FY Cumulative Percentage Usage
GROSS MEASURE G/S REVENUE $ 1,344,594 $ 1,991,285 $ 2,120,557 $ 2,148,886 $ 2,557,335 $ 2,558,612 $ 2,954,366 $ 15,675,635 100.00% Less: State Administration Fees Expense (4,650) (12,900) (14,230) (12,550) (12,670) (12,750) $ (11,820) (81,570) 0.52% NET TOTAL REVENUES $ 1,339,944 $ 1,978,385 $ 2,106,327 $ 2,136,336 $ 2,544,665 $ 2,545,862 $ 2,942,546 $ 15,594,065 99.48% Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Program $ 492,860 $ 855,352 $ 754,349 $ 566,980 $ 834,890 $ 962,870 $ 1,061,585 $ 5,528,886 35.35% Operations & Maintenance 144,415 121,663 152,067 324,765 262,772 78,123 137,191 1,220,997 7.81% Capital Improvements & Equipment 348,445 733,689 602,282 242,215 572,118 884,747 924,393 4,307,889 27.54% Public Safety Program $ 559,443 $ 685,633 $ 729,034 $ 952,363 $ 784,420 $ 906,786 $ 1,020,913 $ 5,638,592 36.05% Operations & Maintenance 518,426 641,610 717,556 896,550 740,094 755,849 835,908 5,105,994 32.64% Capital Improvements & Equipment 41,017 44,023 11,478 55,813 44,326 150,936 185,004 532,598 3.40% Recreation Program $ - $ 52,487 $ 123,773 $ 187,557 $ 256,079 $ 264,464 $ 278,732 $ 1,163,092 7.44% Operations & Maintenance - 52,487 123,773 187,557 256,079 264,464 278,732 1,163,092 7.44% Capital Improvements & Equipment - - - - - - - - 0.00%
Park/Landscape Program $ 118,283 $ 161,271 $ 258,347 $ 232,637 $ 438,921 $ 316,228 $ 233,889 $ 1,759,575 11.25% Operations & Maintenance 87,260 164,327 156,526 183,399 161,395 66,228 24,065 843,199 5.39% Capital Improvements & Equipment 31,023 6,944 101,821 49,238 277,526 250,000 209,824 926,376 5.92% Public Building Program $ 169,358 $ 213,642 $ 240,824 $ 196,799 $ 230,355 $ 62,114 $ 347,427 $ 1,460,519 9.34% Operations & Maintenance 80,998 185,963 222,863 146,481 191,594 58,052 188,637 1,074,587 6.87% Capital Improvements & Equipment 88,360 27,679 17,961 50,318 38,761 4,062 158,791 385,932 2.47% TOTAL EXPENSES $ 1,344,594 $ 1,991,285 $ 2,120,557 $ 2,148,886 $ 2,557,335 $ 2,525,211 $ 2,954,366 $ 15,642,234 100.00% Operations & Maintenance 831,099 1,166,050 1,372,785 1,738,752 1,611,934 1,222,715 1,464,534 9,407,869 60.14% Capital Improvements & Equipment 508,845 812,335 733,542 397,584 932,731 1,289,746 1,478,012 6,152,795 39.33% State Administrative Fees 4,650 12,900 14,230 12,550 12,670 12,750 11,820 81,570 0.52% Inception to Date
Essential Services & Improvements Summary
Operations &
Maintenance
60.14%
Capital Improvements
& Equipment
39.33%
State Administrative
Fees
0.52%
Measure G/S
Inception To Date Expenditure Uses
13 % of
Measure S*
NET TOTAL MEASURE G/S REVENUE $ 2,942,546 100.0%
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE EXPENSE DETAIL
Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Program
Materials & Supplies 2,945 0.1%
Contract Services 14,329 0.5%
Utilities 11,754 0.4%
Repairs & Maintenance 2,038 0.1%
Salaries and Benefits 106,127 3.6%
Subtotal $ 137,191 4.7%
Public Safety Program
Materials & Supplies 1,798 0.1%
Contract Services 336,159 11.4%
Utilities 10,040 0.3%
Repairs & Maintenance 22,006 0.7%
Salaries and Benefits 465,905 15.8%
Subtotal $ 835,908 28.4%
Recreation Program
Salaries and Benefits 185,891 6.3%
Recreation Programs Expenses 92,841 3.2%
Subtotal $ 278,732 9.5%
Park/Landscape Program
Materials & Supplies 1,527 0.1%
Contract Services 8,283 0.3%
Utilities 12,511 0.4%
Repairs & Maintenance 1,744 0.1%
Salaries and Benefits - 0.0%
Subtotal $ 24,065 0.8%
Public Building Program
Materials & Supplies 1,392 0.0%
Contract Services 107,796 3.7%
Utilities 5,429 0.2%
Repairs & Maintenance 2,460 0.1%
Salaries and Benefits 71,560 2.4%
Subtotal $ 188,637 6.4%
Total Operations and Maintenance Expenses $ 1,464,534 49.8% * Percentages rounded to the nearest 0.1%.
MEASURE S SALES TAX
REVENUE AND EXPENSES
FY 2020/21
Measure S
14 % of
Measure S*
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT EXPENSE DETAIL
Street, Sidewalk, and Stormdrain Improvements
Local Road Safety Plan 6,747 0.2%
Citywide Wayfinding Signage 27,104 0.9%
Vehicles 10,111 0.3%
Gateway Signage & Wayfinding Signage - Phase 2 21,295 0.7% Street Improvements 859,137 29.2%
SubTotal $ 924,393 31.4%
Public Safety Improvements
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 614 0.0%
Equipment, Furniture, Vehicle & Tools 16,646 0.6%
Emergency Equipment 52,055 1.8%
Citywide Traffic Safety 115,689 3.9%
SubTotal $ 185,004 6.3%
Park/Landscape Improvements
Falletti Ranch Improvements 199,714 6.8%
Vehicles 10,111 0.3%
SubTotal $ 209,824 7.1%
Public Building Improvements
Civic Center Reroof 108,362 3.7%
City Hall Recarpeting 23,306 0.8%
Police Flooring 14,910 0.5%
Window Replacement 12,212 0.4%
SubTotal $ 158,791 5.4%
Total CIP and Equipment Expenses $ 1,478,012 50.2%
* Percentages rounded to the nearest 0.1%.
MEASURE S SALES TAX
REVENUE AND EXPENSES
FY 2020/21
Measure S
15 Street, Sidewalk, and
Stormdrain
$137,191
Public Safety
$835,908
Recreation
$278,732
Park/Landscape
$24,065
Public Building
$188,637
Operations and Maintenance
Expenditure Detail
Street, Sidewalk, and
Stormdrain
$924,393
Public Safety
$185,004
Park/Landscape
$209,824
Public Building
$158,791
Capital Improvement and Equipment
Expenditure Detail
16 STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND USES
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 30, 2021
The following statements are developed for presentation within the audited financial statement for the City of Cotati for the Fiscal year ending June 30, 2021. Audit fieldwork was completed October 16, 2021, and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report was presented for final approval by the City Council on December 14, 2021.
To the best of our knowledge there are no anticipated audit adjustments or findings as it pertains to the proper presentation of the Statement of Measure G/S Revenues and Uses.
For more information about the City's historical financial activities, you can view the City's audited basic financial statements at City Hall or online at:
http://www.cotaticity.org/city_hall/departments/administrative_services___finance__water_billing_ 17 Voter Pamphlets
18 \'
VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
CITY OF COTATI
MEASUREG
Cotati Essential City Services Measure. To maintain
G Cotati as a viable, independent, financially stable City, address State takeaways, prevent potential Police
Department elimination/permanent service cuts, and
maintain law enforcement staffing levels and other City services, including domestic violence response, street paving, and pothole repair, shall the City of Cotati extend its existing Mem;ure A sales tax and set the rate at 1 ¢for nine years, with independent citizens' oversight, annual audits, and no money for Sacramento?
CITY ATTORNEY'S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE G
The City Council of the City of Cotati placed Measure G on the ballot to ask the City's voters to approve a temporary one percent (1%) transactions and use tax.
The proposed tax would add a penny to the price of an item that costs a dollar. Prior to placing Measure G on the ballot, the City Council unanimously declared the existence of an emergency in the City.
The ordinance proposed by Measure G contains findings that, as a result of factors largely outside of its control-such as the slow recovery from the recession, increased expenses, and the continued taking of City revenues by the State-and despite having taken steps to reduce its operational costs, the City is experiencing an existing and immediate funding crisis. The ordinance further finds that, absent additional General Fund revenue, the City Council will consider reducing police and other essential services, including the possible elimination of the City's Police Department. The ordinance finds that as a result, a fiscal emergency exists within the City.
Because Measure G would not limit the use of tax revenue, it is a "general tax," not a "special tax" that restricts the funds to specific purposes.Therefore, the City may use the funds for any legitimate governmental purpose. Among the examples of general services to be funded by the measure, as described in the ballot question, are maintaining the City's Police Department, including staffing levels, domestic violence response services, street paving, and pothole repair.
The proposed tax would terminate automatically after nine years, unless extended by the voters.
Measure G would require an independent auditor to provide an accounting of the revenue received as a result of the proposed tax and expenditures of the revenue in the City's audited financial statements. The auditor must present a report to the City Council regarding the use of tax proceeds. The report must be a public record.
Technically, the existing "sales tax" is a combination of "sales and use tax" and "transactions and use tax." With some exceptions, both are levied on the sale or use of tangible personal property sold at retail. Retailers collect the tax at the time of sale and remit the funds to the State Board of Equalization, which administers the tax. ·
In 2010, Cotati voters approved Measure A, increasing the sales tax rate from
8.25% lo 8. 75% for five years. Measure G would replace the Measure A tax and set the sales tax rate at 9.25% for nine years. If Measure G is not approved, the current rate will continue until July 2015 and then become 8.25%. Revenue from Measure G would go to the City's general fund and be available to support the full range of municipal services.
A "Yes" vote is a vote to approve a one-cent sales tax for nine years, with annual review by independent auditors. A "No" vote is a vote against the tax. Measure G would be approved if it received a simple majority of "Yes" votes. s/ Robin Donoghue, City Attorney
City of Cotati
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE G
Vote Yes qn G to maintain Cotati's status as a viable, independent City and prevent the elimination of our local Police Department!
Yes on G protects our City from the Sacramento money grabs that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being taken from CotaHs City budget.
Yes on G maintains guaranteed local funding for the vital public safety and community services you expect and rely on, with money that cannot be taken by Sacramento or Washington.
Yes on G ensures your tax dollars are spent locally to keep Cotati financially stable.
Yes on G is not a new tax. It simply continues existing, voter-approved funding at the one cent sales tax rate-ensuring that out-of-towners who use our local services pay their fair share. A majority of Cotati's sales tax is paid by out-of-town shoppers coming to local destinations like Lowe's.
Measure G is not a property tax or a tax on Cotati homeowners, and it does not apply to food purchased as groceries or prescription medication.
Over the last several years, the City has reduced staffing by 28%, frozen wages for over 6 years, reduced employee benefits, and reduced its overall general fund budget by 11 %. Cotati has made every cut possible and we need Measure G to maintain current service levels and prevent more severe and potentially permanent service cuts.
Yes on G includes fiscal accountability provisions. Residents will have access to public expenditure reports, and annual independent audits continue to ensure City officials use voter-approved tax dollars as promised.
Join police officers, local business owners, and community leaders in voting Yes on G to protect and maintain Cotati's public safety and community services. For official information about Measure G, visit www.cotaticity.org COTATI CITY COUNCIL s/ Matthew Stapleton
s/ John A. Dell'Osso, Mayor Police Officer, Cotati resident COTATI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE s/ Prudence K. Draper
s/ Jami Brady, President 60-Year Resident and Taxpayer
s/ Moose Jamal
Local Business Owner
NO ARGUMENT WAS SUBMITTED AGAINST MEASURE G
Sonoma County 49-518 1111111111111111111111111
19 VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE G
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF COTATI AMENDING CHAPTER 3.05 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO EXTEND AND INCREASE A
TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE BOARD
OF EQUALIZATION
BE IT ORDAINED B'( THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF COTATI:
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. The voters of the City of Cotati hereby find and declare as follows:
a. Cotati voters adopted Measure A in 2010, which imposed a transactions and use ("sales") tax of .05% and which sunsets in 20.15. b. Measure A has provided the City with a guaranteed source of local funding for local City services that cannot be taken by the state and has helped maintain the financial viability of the City. Since voters enacted Measure A, the City has maintained a full-service Police Department, with the ability to prevent and investigate property, domestic violence and other types of crime.
c. External costs beyond the City's control have increased faster than the City's revenue sources, including Measure A, and the Stale has continued to raid the City's coffers, taking $2.3 million from the City, including $600,000 from the general fund.
d. The City is experiencing an existing and immediate funding crisis, which is the result of factors largely outside of its control, including national economic trends, rapid increases in the cost of employee retirement and health insurance benefits, decreases in revenue from existing taxes and fees, increases in charges by the County of Sonoma, and unpredictable State takeaways of local revenue.
e. The City has taken significant steps to reduce its operational costs. It has reduced staffing by 28%, reduced employee benefits and reduced its overall general fund budget by 11 % while inflation has increased 20%. f. The City has used its available General Fund balance to bridge the structural budget deficit, meaning it has used all available financial resources and will have none available to maintain services.
g. Because of changes in State law, particularly the approval of Propositions 62 and 218, the City has very few means available for increasing General Fund revenue.
h. Absent an extension and enhancement of the funds provided by Measure A, the City Council would have no choice other than to implement severe reductions in City services and potential elimination of the Police Department.
Just extending Measure A would be inadequate to address the returned emergency that faced the City in 2010. The Measure must be expanded for nine years at one cent to protect our local, high-quality services and ensure our Police Department has the resources it needs to keep Cotati safe. i. Without further action, the revenue measure will expire in 2015, resulting in the loss of over $900,000 of funding for essential City services. j. Unless Measure A funds are enhanced and extended, public facilities and property will not be properly maintained, public safety standards will degrade, crime and violence will increase, the community will not have adequate and safe recreational opportunities, businesses and families will be discouraged from moving to or remaining in Cotati, and the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Cotati will be endangered.
k. Because of that threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, The City Council, at its Regular meeting on February 11, 2014 unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2014-04, declaring that an emergency exists in the City, as the term "emergency" is used in Article XlllC, section 2(b) of the California Constitution. The City must immediately address that emergency by ensuring that the City has the resources necessary to preserve the public health, safety, and welfare.
I. The identified emergency necessitates that the City Council submit a tax measure to the voters of Cotati at the June 3, 2014 election, even though such an election would not be consolidated with a general election for a member of the Council.
m. Arti~le XlllC, section 2(b) of the California Constitution permits the City, in emergency situations unanimously declared by the Council, to seek voter approval for a general tax at an election that is not consolidated with an election for a member of the Council.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT OF CODE. "Chapter 3.05 Transactions and Use Tax" of the Cotati Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 3.05.010. TITLE. This ordinance shall be known as the City of Cotati Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance. The City of Cotati hereinafter shall be called "City." This ordinance shall be applicable in the incorporated territory of the City.
Section 3.05.020. OPERATIVE DATE. "Operative Date" means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the adoption of this ordinance, the date of such adoption being as set forth below. The operative date is anticipated to be October 1, 2014.
Section 3.05.030. PURPOSE. This ordinance is adopted to achieve the following, among other purposes, and directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes:
A. To impose a retail transactions and use tax in accordance with the provisions of Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 7285.9 of Part 1.7 ofDivision 2which authorizes the City to adopt thii; tax ordinance which shall be operative if a majority of the electors voting on the measure vote to approve the imposition of the lax at an election called for that purpose.
B. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that incorporates provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use Tax Law of the State of California insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and limitations contained in Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
C. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that imposes a tax and provides a measure therefore that can be administered and collected by the State Board of Equalization in a manner that adapts itself as fully as practicable to, and requires the least possible deviation from, the existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the State Board of Equalization in administering and collecting the California State Sales and Use Taxes.
D. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that can be administered in a manner that will be, to the greatest degree possible, consistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize the cost of collecting the transactions and use taxes, and at the same time, minimize the burden of record keeping upon persons subject to taxation under the provisions of this ordinance:
Section 3.05.040. CONTRACT WITH STATE. Prior to the operative date, the City shall contract with the State Board of Equalization to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this transactions and use tax ordinance; provided, that if the City shall not have contracted with the State Board of Equalization prior to the operative date, it shall nevertheless so contract and in such a case the operative date shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter following the execution of such a contract.
Section 3.05.050. TRANSACTIONS TAX RATE. For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the incorporated territory of the City at the rate of 1 % of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory on and after the operative date of this ordinance.
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20 VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE G, CONT.
Section 3.05.060. PLACE OF SALE. For the purposes of this ordinance, all retail sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the tangible personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state destination or to a common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The gross receipts from such sales shall include delivei:y charges, when such charges are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which delivery is made. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the State or has more than one place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are consummated shall be determined under rules and regulations to be prescribed and adopted by the State Board of Equalization.
Section 3.05.070. USE TAX RATE. An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the City of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer on and after the operative date of this ordinance for storage, use or other consumption in said territory at the rate of 1 % of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made.
Section 3.05.080. ADOPTION OF PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance and excep,1 insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and TaxCjtion Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance as though fully set forth herein.
Section 3.05.090. LIMITATIONS ON ADOPTION OF STATE LAW AND COLLECTION OF USE TAXES. In adopting the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code:
A. Wherever the State of California is named or referred to as the taxing agency, the name of this City shall be substituted therefore. However, the substitution shall not be made when:
1. The word "State" is used as a part of the title of ttie State Controller, State Treasurer, State Board of Control, State Board of Equalization, State Treasury, or the Constitution of the State of California;
2. The result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against this City or any agency, officer, or employee thereof rather than by or against the State Board of Equalization, in performing the functions incident to the administration or operation of this Ordinance.
3. In those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to sections referring to the exterior boundaries of the State of California, where the result of the substitution would be to:
a. Provide an exemption from this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax while such sales, storage, use or other consumption remain subject to tax by the State under the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or;
b. Impose this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not be subject to tax by the state under the said provision of that code.
4. In Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereoD, 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 or 6828 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
B. The word "City" shall be substituted for the word "State" in the phrase "retailer engaged in business in this State" in Section 6203 and in the definition of that phrase in Section 6203.
Section 3.05.100. PERMIT NOT REQUIRED. If a seller's permit has been issued to a retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an additional transactor's permit shall not be required by this ordinance.
Section 3.05.110. EXEMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS.
A. There shall be excluded from the measure of the transactions tax and the use tax the amount of any sales tax or use tax imposed by the State of California or by any city, city and county, or county pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or the amount of any state-administered transactions or use tax.
B. There are exempted from the computation of the amount of transactions tax the gross receipts from:
1. Sales of tangible personal property, other ttian fuel or petroleum products, to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed principally outside the county in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government.
2. Sales of property to be used outside the City which is shipped to a point outside the City, pursuant to the contract of sale, by delivery to such point by the retailer or his agent, or by delivery by the retailer to a carrier for shipment to a consignee at such point. For the purposes of this paragraph, delivery to a point outside the City shall be satisfied:
a. With respect to vehicles (other than commercial vehicles) subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, and undocumented vessels registered under Division
3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code by registration to an out-of-City address and by a declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, stating that such address is, in fact, his or her principal place of residence; and ·
b. With respect to commercial vehicles, by registration to a place of business out-of-City and declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, that the vehicle will be operated from that address.
3. The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
4. A lease of tangible personal property which is a continuing sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, the sale or lease of tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
C. There are exempted from the use tax imposed by this ordinance, the storage, use or other consumption in this City of tangible personal property:
1. The gross receipts from the sale of which have been subject to a transactions tax under any state-administered transactions and use tax ordinance.
2. Other than fuel or petroleum products purchased by operators of aircraft and used or consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property for hire or compensation under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. This exemption is in addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California.
3. If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
4. If the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power over, the tangible personal properly arises under a lease which is a continuing purchase of such property for. any period of time for which the lessee is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by a lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
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21 VOTER'S PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND ARGUMENTS
(whichever is applicable to your ballot)
Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors.
FULL TEXT OF MEASURE G, CONT.
5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, storage, use, or other consumption, or possession of, or exercise of any right or power over, tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursu· ant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
6. Except as provided in subparagraph (7), a retailer engaged in business in the City shall not be required to collect use tax from the purchaser of tangible personal property, unless the retailer ships or delivers the property into the City or participates within the City in making the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, soliciting or receiving the order, either directly or indirectly, at a place of business of the retailer in the City or through any representative, agent, canvasser, solicitor, subsidiary, or person in the City under the authority of the retailer.
7. "A retailer engaged in business in the City" shall also include any retailer of any of the following: vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, or undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code. That retailer shall be required to collect use tax from any purchaser who registers or licenses the vehicle, vessel, or aircraft at an address in the City.
D. Any person subject to use tax under this ordinance may credit against that tax any transactions tax or reimbursement for transactions tax paid to a district imposing, or retailer liable for a transactions tax pursuant to Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code with respect to the sale to the person of the property the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the use tax.
Section 3.05.120. AMENDMENTS. All amendments subsequent to the effective date of this ordinance to Part 1 ofDivision 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall automatically become a part of this ordinance, provided however, that no such amendment shall operate so as to affect the rate of tax imposed by this ordinance.
The foregoing amendments shall not require voter approval.
The following amendments to this ordinance must be approved by the voters of the City of Cotati: increasing the tax rate or revising the methodology for calculating the tax such that a tax increase would result; imposing the tax on transactions and uses not previously subject to the tax (unless such amendment occurs automatically by operation of the preceding paragraph); or extending the tax beyond the ninth anniversary of the operative date. The City Council may otherwise amend this ordinance without submitting the amendment to the voters for approval.
Section 3.05.130. ENJOINING COLLECTION FORBIDDEN. No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in any court against the State or the City, or against any officer of the State or the City, to prevent or enjoin the collection under this ordinance, or Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected.
Section 3.05.140. ANNUAL AUDIT AND PUBLIC REPORT. Annually the City Council retains an independent auditor to conduct an audit of and provide audited financial statements for all of the City's financial activities. The auditor shall include an accounting of the revenue received from the tax and expenditures thereof in the audited financial statements. The auditor's report shall be presented to the Council and made available to the public. Additionally, the Director of Administrative Services shall annually prepare and present to the Council and the public a report in conjunction with the audit that reviews the status and performance of the programs and services filnded wholly or partially with proceeds of the tax.
Section 3.05.150. TERMINATION DATE. The authority to levy the tax imposed by this ordinance shall expire on the ninth anniversary of the operative date, unless extended by a majority vote of the voters of the City.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance relates to the levying and collecting of the City transactions and use taxes and shall take effect immediately.
SECTION 5. PUBLICATION. The Clerk of the City of Cotati is hereby directed to cause the following summary of the ordinance to be published by one (1) insertion in The Community Voice, a newspaper of general circulation, circulated in the City of Cotati:
Contingent upon majority voter approval, this ordinance adopts a one cent ( 1 % ) transactions and use tax on the sale or consumption of tangible personal property within the City of Cotati. The tax shall terminate automatically upon the ninth anniversary of the State beginning to collect it, unless extended by the voters.
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City Council
Resolution
Establishing the
Measure G Citizens Oversight
Committee
As Adopted September 2015
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