Survey
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DRAFT San Anselmo Financial Advisory Committee Community Survey Priorities & Recommendations April 15, 2013 Members Matt Brown Liz Dahlgren Gage Houser Christopher Livermore Roberta Robinson John Wright Financial Advisory Committee - Background & Summary Background – – DRAFT Town Council appointed the Financial Advisory Committee in October in response to the Strategic Planning Community Survey1 The charge of the FAC was to review and become familiar with the Town’s financial position, budget, resource allocations and expenditures, and to make recommendations to the Town Council Summary – – – – – – – The FAC held six full committee meetings from November through April, and formed two subcommittees, one to look more closely at Town revenues and the other at expenses Town representatives were present at all Committee and subcommittee meetings The Strategic Planning Community Survey1, conducted in 2012, was used by the FAC as the framework for its recommendations regarding Town needs Based on its work, the Committee concluded that the Town has done a good job managing its expenses and that it has already made significant accomplishments in reducing expenses as a result of the police services consolidation (together with the much earlier fire services consolidation) and the two-tiered Town pension system The Committee does not believe that there are further significant savings to be found in the Town budget The Committee concluded that making further significant progress on meeting the Town’s identified needs will require going to voters for a supplemental tax measure, and that the Council should consider putting a sales tax measure on the November 2013 ballot The Committee concluded that infrastructure enhancements, specifically roads, should be of the highest priority. Recreation improvements are being addressed in a detailed site plan due for consideration in early 2014 1 Link to survey: http://www.townofsananselmo.org/archives/89/Survey%20results%20prioritized.pdf 2 DRAFT Community Survey Priorities The following opportunities were identified by survey respondents during a Town-wide survey in 2012 Category Goal Number Description 1 Roads and Drainage 8 Medians 4 Share staff with other agencies 5, 7, 10 Town policies and procedures Benefit Complexity2 Initial Cost On-Going Cost3 Infrastructure1 Shared Services Policies 3 Community Facilities Master Plan 9 Isabel Cook Community Center Remodel Recreation 1Flood Legend High degree of benefit/complexity/cost Low degree of benefit/complexity/cost Control (goal 2) is not in scope and is being addressed as a separate initiative in terms of ease of implementation 3 3Assumes improvements are adequately funded 2Complexity DRAFT Funding Mechanisms The following funding mechanisms were identified by the Financial Advisory Committee Category Sales tax Utility Users Tax Parcel Tax Description Recommendation Benefit Complexity2 Estimated Revenue Recommendation: Pursue •Currently San Anselmo is 1/2 cent lower than all of our surrounding communities (Fairfax, A viable choice for bolstering San Anselmo’s general fund would be Novato, San Rafael) the imposition of a sales (transaction and use) tax in addition to the •Instituting a 1/2 or 1 cent increase requires a regular sales tax now paid. Revenue is variable simple majority and must be enacted during a regular municipal election (e.g. 11/2013) •A special tax designated for a specific purpose could be done at any time but would require a 2/3 vote $500,000$1,000,000 Recommendation: Pursue as an alternative to sales tax •Instituting a utility user tax requires a simple majority and must be enacted during a regular municipal election (11/2013) •A special tax designated for a specific purpose could be done at any time but would require a 2/3 vote •New UUTs are difficult to pass vote ~$600,000 Both rates and the types of utilities to be included can be determined by the Town. Fairfax has a 4% UUT on gas, electric and phone bills and raises $355,000 annually. Revenue is variable. These taxes are a form of property tax, however unlike standard property taxes, a parcel tax is an assessment based on the characteristics of the parcel, typically at a flat-rate. Revenue is predictable. San Anselmo has ~5,000 parcels Recommendation: Do not pursue •The two-thirds majority vote requirement makes passage too difficult Legend High degree of benefit/complexity/cost 2Complexity Low degree of benefit/complexity/cost in terms of ease of implementation $440,000 4 DRAFT Funding Mechanisms - Continued Category Description Recommendation Benefit Complexity2 Estimated Revenue Certificates of Participation (COPs) •Recommendation: Discuss options with an expert in debt financing •Interest rates are at historic lows •The market is ripe for this type of financing as these bonds are typically tax-free •Requires a vote of Town Council •Requires a repayment mechanism but could be ties to a new sales or utility tax $5,000,000 $10,000,000 General Obligation bonds (GOs) •Recommendation: Discuss options with an expert in debt financing •Interest rates are at historic lows •The market is ripe for this type of financing as these bonds are typically tax-free •Requires 2/3 vote $5,000,000 $20,000,000 Sale of Town real property assets Recommendation: Request staff to study feasibility •Sale would result in a one-time gain and on-going property tax revenue Issuing debt Expansion of the Town tax base Inclusion of exempt properties in the paying roll Legend High degree of benefit/complexity Recommendation: •Encourage, if not facilitate exempt property to become non-exempt by all reasonable means. •Work with the county assessor to be sure that current exemptions are legitimate and that properties are property assessed and that taxes are being paid. 2Complexity Low degree of benefit/complexity in terms of ease of implementation ~$50,000 $50,000 $80,000 5 DRAFT Recommendation Summary Category Recommendation Funding Recommendation Benefit Complexity2 Estimated Cost Infrastructure •At minimum, increase level of road maintenance to raise the level of road conditions as well as associated drainage •Next level would be to provide more significant improvements within the 1. Town’s working capacity 2. •Median work should be considered with input from private funds for initial work. Some work could be coordinated with road work. Town would need to be responsible for on-going maintenance. Shared Services Adopt policy statement such that town staff periodically report to council opportunities to share services with other towns/municipalities N/A Policies Not in scope. Policies should be handled within the policies recommended and governed by the town N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Recreation Not in scope . The Town Council approved engaging a third party to develop a master plan. The plan is due in February 2014 General purpose Sales Tax1 or Utility Users Tax Certificates of Participation TBD 1Recommend Legend High degree of benefit/complexity/cost Low degree of benefit/complexity/cost a general purpose tax to qualify for majority vote on 11/13 ballot. The Town Council would not be obligated to spend increased revenue on these purposes but would make it clear that these are the Town’s priorities. 2Complexity 6 in terms of ease of implementation