Goal F.3: Implement comprehensive financial strategies and plans that ensure fiscal sustainability through balanced budgets; explore new revenue streams and renew existing tax measures
Objective F.3.1: Explore tax measure strategies
Develop timeline and take steps to renew existing tax measures requiring voter approval.
Staff lead: John Stefanski (CM, FIN)
Supporting department: FIN, CC, CAO
| Strategy (milestone or activity) | Strategy description | Staff lead | Supporting department | Start date | Target completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Develop fiscal sustainability needs assessment | Update City's long term fiscal model to assess funding gaps/infrastructure needs; develop long-term fiscal sustainability strategy. | Paul Navazio (CM, FIN) | All | Complete | Q2 |
| Develop future ballot measure strategy | Using needs assessment, analyze tax measures - structure, potential revenue, voter-thresholds, review ballot measures to be placed before San Rafael voters by other jurisdictions, and identify potential revenue measures. | John Stefanski (CM) | FIN | Q2 | Q2 |
| Subcommittee seek council subcommittee feedback | Present preliminary recommendations to the finance subcommittee for initial input and guidance. | John Stefanski (CM) | FIN | Q2 | Q2 |
| Present to City Council | Present June 2026 ballot measure strategy to the City Council for policy direction. | John Stefanski (CM) | FIN | Q2 | Q3 |
| Present to City Council | Present to City Council any proposed measure for the June 2026 election. | John Stefanski (CM) | CAO, CC | Q3 | Q3 |
Objective F.3.2: Strengthen sales tax base
Explore strategies and initiatives aimed at increasing overall sales tax revenues by attracting new sales tax generating entities, diversifying the City's current sales tax base and capturing sales tax "leakage" in targeted sectors.
Staff lead: Micah Hinkle (CED, FIN)
Supporting department: CM
| Strategy (milestone or activity) | Strategy description | Staff lead | Supporting department | Start date | Target completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review current sales tax analysis | Assess strength/weaknesses of current sale tax base and identify potential opportunities for focused business attraction (and retention). | Stacey Laumann (CED) | FIN | Q2 | Q3 |
| Review e-commerce sales tax analysis | Review current allocation of sales tax from e-commerce businesses and relevant sales tax agreements. | Alexis Bailey (FIN) | CED | Q2 | Q3 |
| Develop business attraction/retention strategy | Develop targeted strategies to attract new sales tax generating businesses; considering economic and demographic trends. | Stacey Laumann (CED) | CM | Q3 | Q3 |
| Track metrics on sales tax generating businesses | Refine tools to assess effectiveness of business attraction/retention strategies supporting sales tax generation. | Stacey Laumann (CED) | DS | Complete | Q2 |
Objective F.3.3: Identify and secure new revenue
Identify and secure new revenue sources to address the insufficient funding available to address deferred maintenance of the city's infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability, safety, reduction of flood risk, and reliability of public assets, including storm water system, park and facility enhancement plans, etc.
Staff lead: Paul Navazio (FIN, CED, CM)
Supporting department: CM, CA, DPW, FIN, FD, PD
| Strategy (milestone or activity) | Strategy description | Staff lead | Supporting department | Start date | Target completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluate potential proposition 218-compliant stormwater fee | Assess viability, fee structure. Revenue potential and approval process for property-based assessment. | Alexis Bailey (FIN) | CM, CA, DPW | Q2 | Q3 |
| Develop framework for funding contributions from development | Create framework for infrastructure financing districts and/or community facilities districts (large-scale developments); developer agreements (negotiated). | Sullina Smith (CED) | CM, FIN, DPW, PD, FD | Q3 | Q4 |
| Explore the creation of a 501c3 for private donations | Evaluate and identify opportunities to establish a 501c3 to collect private donations. | Daniel Cooperman (CM) | CAO, FIN | Q3 | Q4 |
Objective F.3.4: Update master fee schedule and development impact fees
Update the master fee schedule and development impact fees to ensure full cost recovery and address increased demand for public services and facilities.
Staff lead: Paul Navazio (FIN, LR, CED)
Supporting department: All
| Strategy (milestone or activity) | Strategy description | Staff lead | Supporting department | Start date | Target completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct recreation fee study review | Engage consultant to conduct comprehensive review of recreation program fees; structure, cost-recovery targets, fee updates. | Craig Veramay (LR) | FIN | Complete | Complete |
| Present to finance council subcommittee | Present recreation program study recommendations to finance subcommittee for feedback. | Craig Veramay (LR) | FIN | Q3 | Q3 |
| Present to City Council | Present proposed recreation fee policy / updated program fees for discussion and possible adoption. | Craig Veramay (LR) | FIN | Q3 | Q4 |
| Conduct review of planning, building & code enforcement fees | Evaluate opportunities for increased level of cost-recovery. | Greg Minor (CED) | FIN | Q2 | Q3 |
| Update of master fee schedules | Update of master fee schedule concurrent with adoption of FY 2026-27 annual budget. | Alexis Bailey (FIN) | All | Q2 | Q4 |
| Conduct park in-lieu and park impact fees evaluation | Complete fee study. | Sullina Smith (CED) | CAO, FIN | Q2 | Q3 |
| Present to City Council | Present proposed update park in-lieu and park impact fee(s) for discussion and possible adoption. | Sullina Smith (CED) | CAO | Q2 | Q3 |
| Conduct public safety impact fee study | Identify consultant to conduct public safety impact fee nexus study. | Preya Nixon (CM) | PD, FD, FIN | Q2 | Q3 |
| Present to finance council subcommittee | Present public safety impact fee nexus study recommendations to finance subcommittee for feedback. | Preya Nixon (CM) | CED, PD, FD, FIN, CAO | Q3 | Q4 |
| Present to City Council | Present proposed public safety impact fees to City Council for potential approval. | Preya Nixon (CM) | CED, PD, FD, FIN, CAO | Q4 | Q4 |
| Conduct transportation impact fees study | Identify consultant to conduct transportation impact fee nexus study. | Joanna Kwok (DPW) | DPW, FIN | Complete | Q2 |
| Present to finance council subcommittee | Present transportation impact fee study recommendations to finance council subcommittee for feedback. | Joanna Kwok (DPW) | DPW, FIN | Q3 | Q4 |
| Present to City Council | Present proposed transportation impact fee(s) to the City Council for discussion and possible adoption. | Joanna Kwok (DPW) | DPW, FIN | Q4 | Q4 |