Measure H is Intended to Raise Revenue to Maintain Current City Services in Lafayette

LAFEYETE, CA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / September 13, 2024 / f Measure H fails to secure a simple majority vote, the Lafayette City Council will have to consider, as part of the budgeting process, possibly cutting back or discontinuing some City programs and services. 

          Lafayette, Calif. – In November 2024, Lafayette voters will have a choice. The City Council has approved placing a funding measure on the November 5, 2024, ballot so voters in Lafayette can consider enacting a local sales tax of 1/2₵ for a period of 7 years to provide funding to maintain the current level of City services. 

          If approved by 50% +1 of Lafayette voters in November, all the revenue from the sales tax would go directly into the City’s General Fund. The General Fund provides funding for City services and facilities, including:

• Maintaining public streets and storm drains and providing timely pothole repair.
• Funding wildfire preparedness activities.
• Maintaining the number of sworn police officers at the current level.
• Maintaining the current level of services for seniors.
• Cleaning and maintaining city parks, open spaces, paths, and playfields.
• Improving traffic safety on our streets and roads for all users, including people driving, biking, and walking.
• Continuing financial support for our community partners like the Chamber of Commerce.

A ½ cent sales tax would raise about $2.4 million annually for City services. All funds generated by the local sales tax would be locally controlled and stay in Lafayette to provide important city services. Under State law, the State cannot take this funding away, and the City is not required to share it with the state or the county. 100% of the revenue would remain in the City to benefit Lafayette residents.

          If Measure H passes, it will require that a Citizen’s Oversight Committee be formed, and an annual audit will be conducted and made public to monitor how these funds are being spent.

 If Measure H fails to secure a simple majority vote, the Lafayette City Council will have to consider, as part of the budgeting process, possibly cutting back or discontinuing some City programs and services. 

The City currently faces an ongoing annual deficit of more than $2M. This deficit is due primarily to rising costs for maintaining our public streets and City facilities, insurance, and more state mandates without state funding.

City Manager Niroop K. Srivatsa said, “It is projected that closing the annual deficit will require cuts across all City departments.” The deficit equates to approximately 10% of the City’s annual General Fund budget, so that cuts could impact all City departments, including police, public works, planning, engineering, parks and recreation, and administration.

“Although the Council has not made any decisions yet on what services or programs would be impacted, Staff presented a scenario of what  10% across-the-board cuts may entail to the City Council on June 10, 2024,” Srivatsa added. You can read the staff report on the City's website or watch a recording of the presentation on the City’s YouTube channel.

          Lafayette was incorporated in 1968 as a limited-service City and receives only a small amount of the property taxes collected by the County compared to most other cities – about $670 annually for each million dollars of assessed property value. Currently, the City does not have a local sales tax, unlike many neighboring cities, including Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill Concord, and others. 

          Information about municipal finances and the City’s deficit was shared with Lafayette residents through the City’s periodic newsletter, Vistas, which is available online at www.lovelafayette.org/vistas.

            More information about Measure H is available on the City of Lafayette’s website at www.LoveLafayette.org/MeasureH. More information about the City’s financial situation is available on the City of Lafayette’s website at www.LoveLafayette.org/FiscalSustainability or email lafayettelistens@lovelafayette.org. 

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