April 8, 2024
1. Highlights of fiscal challenges
2. Additional background
3. Survey results & key take-aways
4. Recommendations & timelines
2 ◦ Unfunded deferred maintenance, capital projects, and infrastructure needs
Significant road repair needs
◦ Lean staffing levels
◦ Public Safety Needs
Fire station modernizations
Fire Dept. vehicles & medical equipment
3 SL voters have authorized 6 tax measures over the past decade:
Measure Z (November 2010)
¼ cent sales tax, 7-year sunset to expire 12/31/2017
Measure HH (November 2014)
Extended Measure Z at ½ cent rate, 30-year sunset to expire 12/31/2044 Maintained existing service levels
Measures OO, PP, NN (November 2016)
Small business license tax reduction, parking lot (10% of gross receipts) & warehouse tax ($100/$1,000 square feet)
Modified T.O.T (hotel tax) from 10% to 14%
Cannabis business tax (currently 5% of gross receipts) Measure VV (November 2020)
Increased real property transfer tax from $6/$1,000 to $11/$1,000
4 July 10, 2023:
◦ Council presented with various revenue measure options ◦ Council directs staff to explore a 2024 measure
December 2023:
◦ Scientific survey conducted
3 measures tested:
G.O. bond
Parcel Tax
UUT
5 Favorability rating of city services: 67.3%
Highlights of Top-Ranked Service Priorities
• Repair potholes and maintain City streets
• Maintain neighborhood police patrols
• Maintain youth violence prevention, and drug and gang intervention programs • Upgrade Fire stations to ensure rapid emergency response • Enhance senior and youth programs
• Keeping City parks clean and safe, and
• Support recreation programs
Survey results (“informed support”)*:
• Parcel Tax: 62.1%
• GO Bond: 60%
• UUT: 52.4%
*Sample size: n= 700
Margin of error: 3.66% - likely Nov. 2024 voters; 6.39% for split samples 6 Utility User Tax is most viable
◦ 3.4% increase could generate b/t $6.8M to $7.1M annually Top-Ranked Service Priorities
• Repair potholes and maintain City streets
• Maintain neighborhood police patrols
• Maintain youth violence prevention, and drug and gang intervention programs • Upgrade fire stations to ensure rapid emergency response • Enhance senior and youth programs
• Keeping City parks clean and safe
• Recreation programs
7 Focus on proposed UUT measure
Continue to conduct public outreach
Continue to communicate the City’s “story of need”
Consider bonding against future proceeds
Conduct additional tracking poll this spring/summer
Authorize proposed agreement
8 ONGOING! Opinion Leader & Stakeholder Communications Continued Late April – Early May Mailer #1 – City Manager Letter (Two-way Reply) Online Ads & Video Round 1
Early June Mailer #2 – Community Report Back
Online & Video Ad Flight Round 2
Early June Tracking Poll in Field
June City Council Review –Tracking poll + Listening results July Adoption of ordinance placing measure on ballot
August 9 Filing Deadline for November 2024 Election
Aug. 9 – Nov. 5 ELECTION WINDOW – Reminder: City provides information ONLY.
Mailers #3 & #4
October 7 Ballots MAIL.
November 5, 2024 Election Day!
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