Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Leandro council authorizes outreach to pursue business license tax modernization, approves up to $185,000
Summary
After hearing polling that showed stronger support for a business license tax than for a parcel or vacancy tax, the council directed staff to begin community outreach on a business license modernization and approved up to $185,000 to fund outreach and consultant work. Vote unanimous with one absence.
San Leandro’s City Council on April 6 directed staff to begin community outreach and engagement around modernizing the city’s business license tax and authorized up to $185,000 to fund outreach and related consultant work.
Deputy City Manager Eric Engelbart said staff recommended focusing on a business license tax because the city’s consultant found it more likely to pass. "Staff is prepared to commence with community outreach, and that could include community listening sessions, stakeholder meetings and distribution of outreach materials," Engelbart told the council.
Consultant Brian Godby summarized the survey methodology and results, noting the research used a 607-person likely-voter sample and split-sample tests to avoid bias. "When we add the definitely and probably together, you see where it’s 63% in round numbers" for the business license tax in the survey’s second test, Godby said, which is above a simple-majority threshold. By contrast, the parcel tax scenarios tested in the low‑to‑mid 50s and would require a two‑thirds threshold to pass.
Council members probed details about revenue and administration. Staff said a gross‑receipts style business license modernization at about $1.25 per $1,000 of gross receipts could yield roughly $3.8 million to $4.3 million annually; the parcel-tax scenario in the polling was projected at about $6.9 million but would need a 66.7% supermajority and was not polling at that level. Staff also warned that a vacancy tax is complex to administer and that administration costs could offset a sizable share of revenue.
Vice Mayor Vivero Swalton moved the staff recommendation to proceed with outreach and to adopt the resolution appropriating up to $185,000 to fund the work, and Council member James Aguilar seconded. The motion carried unanimously, with six yes votes and one member absent.
What’s next: staff said outreach would include listening sessions, stakeholder briefings, informational materials and possible nonscientific surveys. Council asked staff to return with a proposed ballot package in mid‑summer if outreach indicated support.
