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Measure U oversight committee and staff present 2024 annual report; council receives and files report
Summary
City staff and the Measure U Citizens Oversight Committee presented the annual Measure U report for the period ending June 30, 2024, showing approximately 90% of expenditures allocated to public safety, with 5% for youth services and 5% for quality-of-life programs; council received and filed the report and committee annual report.
City staff and the Measure U Citizens Oversight Committee presented the Measure U annual report for the period ending June 30, 2024, to the Santa Maria City Council and the council voted to receive and file the presentation and the committee's annual report.
Assistant City Manager Chun Woo told the council Measure U is a one-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2018. The council had set goals for Measure U revenue to: maintain services, make service enhancements, improve public safety and youth services, and enhance quality of life. Staff said the council had set a guideline that 90% of Measure U proceeds be used for public safety, 5% for youth services and 5% for quality of life.
The Measure U Citizens Oversight Committee, a five-resident panel, reviewed unaudited financial statements for fiscal year 2023-24 and unanimously prepared an annual report stating the financial statements accurately reflect Measure U revenues and follow the council policy on spending allocation. The committee is advisory and not responsible for spending decisions.
Staff presented appropriation figures for fiscal year 2023-24, noting adopted appropriations and carryforwards that increased the total adopted amount to about $40.6 million and that Measure U supports public safety positions and services across police, fire, recreation and parks, library, code enforcement and other departments. Staff provided pie charts that showed the majority of Measure U expenditures went to police and fire and that expenditures by council priority were roughly 89% public safety, 5.6% youth services and 5.4% quality-of-life.
Councilmembers asked for follow-up reporting. Councilmember Soto requested a report on youth services funded by Measure U, including program outcomes, and asked whether similar detail about homelessness spending could be correlated to Measure U. Staff said the rangers and some community development activities are included in public safety allocations and that a homelessness/cost report would be provided in an upcoming quarterly presentation; staff said a youth-services report could be produced if councilmembers requested it.
The council recorded the presentation as received and filed, and staff said the oversight committee's annual report will be placed on record.
