5.6% TAX INCREASE / BUDGET HEARINGS - MAY 2ND, 3RD & 9TH STARTING AT 6PM.
As you know, the mayor is proposing a 5.6% increase in taxes. It is now with the City Council and public to weigh in, respond and approve the final municipal budget.
As you know, the mayor is proposing a 5.6% increase in taxes. It is now with the City Council and public to weigh in, respond and approve the final municipal budget.
These hearings are going to be by zoom, so you can easily join and learn how your tax dollars are going to be spent. The bulk of the increase is due to $7M of increases in salary & wages – much for existing employees, some for new hires. Every $300,000 is an approximate .5% increase in the municipal tax rate.
There are nine, 20-45 minute hearings in total. Here is the schedule:
Monday May 2nd Workshop – click ZOOM link
- 600pm – CITY CLERK – Elections, Records,
- 630pm – WATER UTLITY – Water rates (which are going up), water infrastructure projects
- 700pm – ADMINISTRATION / FINANCE – Mayor’s Office (including his personal aide/campaign staff), Business Administrator, Finance Department and Constituent Services.
- 740pm – ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES – Parks, Trash, Roads, Street Trees, Resiliency Efforts, Flooding
Tuesday, May 3rd Workshop – click ZOOM link
- 600pm – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – All Redevelopment Projects, Affordable Housing, Rent Control, Zoning and Zoning Enforcement, Outdoor Dining
- 645pm – HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES – Recreation, Seniors, Cannabis Licenses, Dog Licenses, COVID Response, Birth Records
- 730pm – CORPORATION COUNSEL – City’s Law Department and Mayor Bhalla’s Legal Advisor
Monday, May 9th Workshop – click ZOOM link
- 600pm – PUBLIC SAFETY – Police, Fire, Emergency Management and Ambulance
- 715pm – PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION – Parking, Micro-mobility (bike share, e-scooters, corner cars), Bike lanes, Vision Zero.
In 2021, Mayor Bhalla proposed a 0% flat tax in a year where the city used $6.5M of COVID related relief aid in the municipal budget. Myself and colleagues Giattino, Ramos and Defusco felt taxpayers should have gotten a break and countered with a proposed 4.5% reduction in the tax rate. We compromised with a 2.8% tax decrease that passed 9-0. I have not yet gone through the 2022 budget in detail, but this 5.6% feels like a claw back to grab last year’s tax reduction.
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