Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dixon council approves $75,000 for fiscal‑sustainability outreach; timing and impartiality questioned
Summary
Council approved a $75,000 budget amendment to fund mailed brochures, infographics and short videos to educate residents about the city's budget; a public commenter warned the timing and content could appear to influence a pending sales‑tax measure, while staff and the city attorney said the program is educational and will be implemented this fiscal year.
Madeline, the staff presenter, asked the council to adopt a resolution transferring $75,000 from reserves to implement a fiscal sustainability outreach program that would include three mailed brochures, web infographics and short videos explaining the budget process. "The recommended action tonight is to do a budget transfer from reserves for $75,000 to implement this program," she said.
Madeline explained that roughly $28,000 was already allocated in the target budget and that the new amendment would bring the total for the program to about $103,000; she said approximately half of the $75,000 is for printing and mailing. The program is intended as education about city revenues, expenditures, enterprise funds and reserves and would be implemented within the current fiscal year.
A public commenter raised concerns about the timing and said similar mailers had previously drawn an FPPC complaint when they were perceived as supporting a sales tax. The commenter said, "You cannot send these out as soon as the mail in ballots go out…because that's exactly what you did the last time," and warned staff to avoid advocacy. City Attorney staff and Madeline responded that the proposed effort is strictly educational; the city attorney noted the prior effort was determined by the FPPC to be compliant and staff said the timeline would focus on explaining the budget process rather than advocating for a ballot measure.
Council debated outreach effectiveness and timing; one council member voted "No" and the motion passed on a roll call vote.
