Measure S - The Basics

Revenue from the sales tax will be allocated towards:

• Addressing crime and public nuisances associated with homelessness
• Preventing the elimination of neighborhood police patrols
• Maintaining local fire protection and improving 9-1-1 emergency response times
• Repairing potholes and maintaining streets

The tax would be collected only in Suisun City at the point of sale. Visitors and residents pay the tax. 

Essential purchases, such as groceries, medicine, diapers and feminine hygiene products are exempt from sales tax. 

Fiscal accountability requirements include:

• Public disclosure of all spending
• Independent citizen oversight
• All funds must stay local in Suisun City
• No funds can be taken away by the State 

Suisun City is currently facing a severe budget deficit. Renewing the locally-controlled sales tax funding at a rate of 1.75% enables the City to address the budget deficit and maintain Suisun City’s essential services and independence. When visitors, tourists and residents pay the tax, they provide locally controlled revenue that supports repairs to City infrastructure, emergency services, crime prevention, youth programs and recreational facilities.

A Town Hall meeting on how to specifically spend Measure S proceeds was held on March 22, 2017, with about 45 participants.  City staff is developing a Fiscal Year 2017-18 Budget that will include Measure S funds.

A key question for the Town Hall meeting was:  Imagine if you had $1.8 million to spend to improve Suisun City. What would you spend it on?

Other questions to consider before you divvy up the dollars:

• What type of Suisun City do you see in the future?
• Where can the City improve or get better?
• What would get funded first – public safety, roads, parks, jobs or something else?

Because our community needs exceed our resources, there are tough choices ahead.

Though the Town Hall is completed, you can submit your thoughts using the question form on the right side of this page.

Through the SWAY… Have Your Say education program, resident surveys and other outreach efforts, there is broad consensus on the service areas on which the projected $1.8 million in annual revenues should be spent. These include police, fire prevention & protection, streets & street lights, parks & trees/landscaped areas, economic development & job creation, among other vital City services.

At the town hall, Police Chief Tim Mattos, Fire Chief Mike O’Brien, Building & Public Works Director Tim McSorley, Recreation & Community Services Director Kris Lofthus – among others – answered questions regarding how services are currently delivered.

The community has been a great partner as we’ve worked on strategies to address the need to enhance City services over the most recent budget cycles. Now, we need you to continue on this path that we began together so we can continue to move Suisun City forward.

Other News: City released mini-film to bolster economic development

The City Clerk will accept through the end of March applications for residents interested in serving on the Measure S Oversight Committee.

For more details, please see the specific announcement.

On February 21, 2017, the Council provided input on the organizational vision and supporting goals/priorities to guide use of Measure S funds.

• 02/21/2017 City Council agenda packet(PDF, 3MB) (2.8 MiB, 2,827 hits)

5:45 p.m. Closed Session Meeting to discuss anticipated litigation. 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda and staff reports, including Mid-Year Update on the FY2016-17 Budget, and discussion of goals and priority areas to guide use of Measure S funds.

On January 3, 2017, the Council provided its first formal direction to City staff about its priorities in implementing Measure S.

• 01/03/2017 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 7MB) (6.6 MiB, 3,010 hits)

6:15 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda to discuss personnel matters. 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including Public Hearing to update Development Impact Fees, discussion regarding Waterfront area public safety strategies and discussion of Measure S implementation strategy.

On December 6, 2016, the Council approved several resolutions approving agreements that allow the California Board of Equalization to begin collecting the 1% tax levied by Measure S. The tax will go into effect on April 1, 2017, and the City will receive the first quarterly installment in July 2017.

• 12/06/2016 City Council agenda packet(PDF, 3MB) (3.0 MiB, 2,978 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Meeting Agenda with staff reports, including agreements with the state Board of Equalization to administer Measure S.

Below, you’ll find comparative tax rates, program funding priorities and Oversight Committee details, in response to resident requests.

Measure S is  forecast to generate approximately $1.8 million per year for Suisun City’s General Fund.

For Measure S to pass, it must garner support of more than 50% of the voters participating.

According to the July 26 staff report to the Council, staff was directed to prepare Measure S for the ballot “in response to overwhelming evidence that the City cannot sustain the desirable service levels without an ongoing general tax revenue increase. The voters can decide whether to address the shortfalls in that manner, or the City will need to significantly revise and retool the service levels that can be sustained with the current revenue stream.”

This page is designed to provide only factual educational information and resources regarding Measure S.

The Measure S ballot language:

“To provide funding, that cannot be taken by the State, to maintain Suisun City services that make neighborhoods safer including:

• rapid 911 emergency responses,

• neighborhood police patrols,

• youth crime/gang prevention,

• fire prevention/protection,

• fixing potholes,

• maintaining City streets/streetlights,

• maintaining City parks/street trees, and

• other vital City services,

shall Suisun City enact a one-cent (1%) sales tax for ten years, providing $1,800,000 annually, with annual audits, citizens’ oversight, all funds spent locally in
Suisun City?”

The Solano County Registrar of Voters has posted on its website the following documents related to Measure S:

• Full Text of Measure S
• Impartial Analysis
• Arguments in Favor
• Arguments in Opposition
• Rebuttal to Arguments in Opposition
• Rebuttal to Arguments in Favor

These resources are provided specifically to answer questions raised by residents either at community meetings, via email or by other means.

• Staff Report to City Council - July 26, 2016 (4.9 MiB, 1,797 hits)
  This is the report Staff prepared for the City Council to consider placing a local sales tax measure before voters, including survey and outreach results, full language of the tax ordinance, and the resolution establishing the Oversight Committee, including membership and duties.

 What are the funding priorities as new revenue becomes available?

Measure S is a general tax so its proceeds would become part of the City General Fund and be allocated by the City Council as part of the usual budget process.

The City Manager prepared the following charts to illustrate the current unmet community needs for which there is no funding, and the staffing priorities of executive staff as any new funding becomes available. (The source of these charts is the July 26, 2016, Staff Report to the City Council, and a similar version was part of the City Manager’s FY 16-17 Budget Message.)

 (PDF, 89KB)(PDF, 116KB)

How does the sales tax rate in Suisun City compare with other communities?

The following chart lists the current sales tax rates in cities in Solano County and neighboring communities that are utilized for standard comparison purposes. (The source of the chart is the July 26, 2016, Staff Report to the City Council.)

(PDF, 85KB)

Who is on the Measure S Oversight Committee, and what does the Committee do?

The membership and duties of the Oversight Committee are set in Resolution 2016-66 that was adopted by the City Council, which is ultimately responsible for the allocation of any proceeds arising from Measure S and all taxpayer funds.

Powers and Duties

“The Oversight Committee will ensure transparency and oversight of the revenue generated by the voter-approved General Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance. The duties will consist of reviewing the General Transaction and Use Tax Compliance and Internal Control Audit Report which will be prepared annually by the City’s independent auditor, as well as any City financial reports necessary to advise the City Council.”   ~ Suisun City Council Resolution 2016-66

Membership

• 5 City residents who are taxpayers
• Two 2-year terms, three 5-year terms
• Applicants are reviewed by a City Council Ad Hoc Committee with no more than 10 forwarded to the City Council for interviews and selection
• The Committee will meet at least once per year, but may meet as often as it deems necessary

City Council Resolution 2016-66 - Tax Measure Oversight Board (274.4 KiB, 1,322 hits)
The Suisun City Council adopted Resolution 2016-66 on July 26, 2016, to establish and set the guidelines for the Sales Tax Oversight Board.

All City Council agendas with staff reports are located at www.Suisun.com/ccagenda

• 09/06/2016 Suisun City Council Agenda Packet (5.6 MiB, 3,138 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including announcement of Our Hometown Photo Contest Winners, preliminary review of Suisun Commerce and Logistics Center, receiving ROPS 16/17B, and approval of the Comprehensive Update of the Master Fee Schedule.

• 07/26/2016 City Council agenda packet(PDF, 89KB) (8.5 MiB, 3,266 hits)

• 6:30 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda to confer with legal counsel on litigation, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including placing a general transactions and use tax measure before the voters and updating user fees and charges.

• 07/05/2016 City Council agenda packet (4.8 MiB, 3,037 hits)
  6 p.m. Special Closed Session agenda for discussion of legal matters, and 7 p.m. Regular Session agenda with staff reports, including direction regarding a transactions and use tax measure.

• 06/21/2016 City Council Agenda(PDF, 362KB) (6.5 MiB, 3,002 hits)
  6 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including Public Hearing and approval of Fiscal Year 2016-17 Annual Budget

• 06/06/2016 City Council Agenda(PDF, 3MB) (1,006.1 KiB, 2,749 hits)6 p.m. Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda, with staff reports, including Fiscal Year 2016-17 Annual Budget Workshop

• 03/22/2016 City Council Agenda packet (896.8 KiB, 896 hits)
  5:30 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session agenda with staff reports, including approval of a community engagement and empowerment strategy.

• 03/01/2016 City Council Agenda Packet (7.4 MiB, 1,408 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including an update on fireworks sales, quarterly Traffic Committee report, mid-year FY 2015-16 budget report & initiation of FY 2016-17 budget process, discussion regarding community engagement and empowerment in developing a strategic and financial plan, and discussion regarding sale of City parcel on Marina Blvd. at Lotz Way.
  Staff noticed on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, that page 41 - a budget spreadsheet - was the incorrect exhibit. The correct exhibit has been added to the packet immediately following page 41 of the packet. We apologize for any inconvenience.

• 09/15/2015 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 4MB) (3.7 MiB, 2,712 hits)
  6 p.m. Special Closed Session agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including amending the fees for commercial use of the marina, modifications to the City's hiring freeze policy, and introduction of an ordinance expediting the permit process for rooftop solar installations.

• 09/01/2015 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 5MB) (5.4 MiB, 3,403 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including an Emergency Preparedness Month update, an agreement to assess feasibility of a tax measure on the Nov. 2016 ballot, and a public hearing regarding Downtown Waterfront Specific Plan Update policies.

• 08/11/2015 City Council agenda packet(PDF, 7MB)(PDF, 7MB)(6.6 MiB, 2,695 hits)
  5 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including discussion of new sustainable funding for transportation infrastructure, a presentation on Rosenberg's Rules of Order, and a Public Hearing on joining the California Development Authority PACE Program.

• 06/23/2015 City Council Agenda (7.7 MiB, 869 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda and staff reports, including hearings on collection of unpaid garbage collection charges, Maintenance Assessment Districts, finalizing amendment of CFD No. 2, modifying CFD No. 3, and the City's FY15-16 Budget

•  06/09/2015 City Council agenda packet(PDF, 5MB) (5.0 MiB, 3,252 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including FY15-16 Budget Workshop, and adoption of Vision and Preferred Land Use Alternative for the Downtown Waterfront Specific Plan Update

• 06/02/2015 City Council Agenda Packet (7.6 MiB, 3,003 hits)
  7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including a proposal to lease the Lambrecht Sports Complex to Cepeda Baseball

• 03/03/2015 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 3MB) (3.2 MiB, 3,008 hits)
  5:30 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including start of FY 15-16 Financial Plan development, authority to sign amendment to Solano Garbage agreement, and an agreement to negotiate a property sale with Hall Equities.

• 06/17/2014 City Council Agenda Packet - Part 2(PDF, 6MB) (5.6 MiB, 3,271 hits)
  Staff reports for Downtown Waterfront Specific Plan Update contract award, request to include City in program to address property squatters, and repeal of City sex offender ordinance.

• 05/20/2014 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 4MB) (3.7 MiB, 3,056 hits)
  5:30 p.m. Closed Session Agenda. 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda. Updated 5/19/2014 with full staff report packet, including Fiscal Year 2014-15 budget workshop

• 03/08/2014 City Council Special Meeting Agenda(PDF, 55KB) (55.2 KiB, 2,769 hits)
  Agenda for City Council Community Workshop at Nelson Community Center

• 03/04/2014 City Council agenda(PDF, 3MB) (2.6 MiB, 3,833 hits)
  5:30 p.m. Special Closed Session Agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda Packet with staff reports, including framing Suisun City's economic development goals.

• 02/18/2014 City Council Agenda packet (2.8 MiB, 2,270 hits)
  6 p.m. Special Housing Authority Closed Session Meeting Canceled. 7 p.m. Regular Session City Council agenda packet with staff reports, including hearing on unpaid waste collection charges, approving 2014-18 Travis Community Consortium Strategy, and Fiscal Year 2013-14 mid-year fiscal review.

• 02/04/2014 City Council Agenda Packet(PDF, 2MB) (1.9 MiB, 3,214 hits)
  6 p.m. Special Closed Session agenda, and 7 p.m. Regular Session Agenda with staff reports, including priority list of events, discussion of fireworks sales, and discussion of FY2014-15 budget workshop.