First Time Piedmont Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee Can Be Publicly Viewed from Home or Office
Bond Measure on November 2020 Ballot ?
Community participation in setting priorities ?
The Piedmont Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee (BAFPC) has recently been charged by the Piedmont City Council with coming up with ways to fund Piedmont public projects.
According to public comments, funding is possibly a bond measure for the November 3, 2020 Piedmont ballot. The Council will need to make a decision on placing a bond measure on the November ballot no later than August.
To date, there have been no public meetings or surveys to determine the list of desired projects which Piedmonters would favor.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have already been spent by the City Council on consultants and staff work proposing and planning special recreation projects. Recreation projects have focused on a new Municipal Pool and Aquatic Center, Linda Beach Park play areas, and Coaches Field. Other city facilities are also on a priority list.
Very recently, 20th century Fire and Police facilities and readiness have been added to the Council list of possible projects needing funding sources. Public input has not been solicited on these projects.
Infrastructure improvements to roadways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters and undergrounding of overhead wires are not listed on the City Council priority list for funding.
Where is the money going to come from?
BAFPC to advise the City Council on funding sources.
For the first time, at-home citizens will be able to view and participate in the BAFPC deliberations and recommendations. Typically, the meetings have been held away from cameras with no minutes produced of the meetings. The BAFPC Chair generally writes the Committee recommendations that are forwarded to the City Council.
The Committee advises on tax levies, bond measures, financial planning, and budgetary matters. See items listed on the May 7, 2020 meeting agenda below.
Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee Thursday, May 7, 2020 7:00 p.m. Via Teleconference
Members of the public can participate in the meeting by:
Computer or smart phone: Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88058053315
Telephone: Dial (669) 900-9128 and enter webinar/meeting number 880-5805-3315
Full meeting agenda and participation details click below:
2020-05-07 Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee.
Back-up documentation and staff reports for the agenda have not been publicly disseminated.
Relevant prior staff report:
Finally a televised BAFPC! Most residents know little of this committee but it is the source for all tax increases for the city. BAFPC was recently directed by Council to develop funding proposals for major upgrades to city facilities. Three quick observations from last night’s meeting:
– scenarios of $30, 45 and 70M bond initiatives are being studied
– apparently the community can live with “15 basis points” (0.15%) of bond indebtedness which translates to either the school district or city issuing $60M bond indebtedness every 5 years. The size of the city proposal could impinge on the district’s ability to issue bonds in 5 years. City staff will be reaching out to district officials to discuss this.
– Chair Bill Hosler offered a quick estimate – with 4000 parcels in town, an equitable parcel tax of $1000 per parcel for 10 years would raise $47M. I don’t recall if that was through issuance of bonds or just accumulated funds.
Hopefully this Zoom meeting will be posted on the city website so residents can watch. Next BAFPC meeting in May 21 where a final recommendation will likely be made.
With the current health and financial crises, another attack on Piedmont’s taxpayers is absolutely unconscionable! In particular, another tax for recreational facilities MUST be foregone at this time.