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MANAGEMENT'S�ISCUSSION AND QNALYSIS 6.1.F. - Page 43 <br /> In November 2011 Redwood City voters approved an increase in the transient occupancy tax rate from 10% to <br /> 12%. We expect this to produce an additional $600,000 of transient occupancy tax revenue each year going <br /> forward. <br /> The voters also approved increasing the City's business license tax 50% over three years. This should increase <br /> general fund revenues by about$800,000 annually when fully implemented in FY 2014/15. <br /> The adopted FY 2012/13 budget projects a deficit of $645,000 or about 0.8% of anticipated revenues. We <br /> consider this essentially a balanced budget. Our preliminary forecast is for this deficit to increase to $1.5 million <br /> or 1.8% of revenues in FY 2013/14. The primary driver behind this increase is an additional $1 million of <br /> retirement contributions being required as a result of the California Public Employees Retirement System reducing <br /> their assumed rate of return from 7.75% to 7.50% The organization is currently pursuing several initiatives to <br /> address this projected shortfall in FY 2013/14 with the goal of bringing the City Council a balanced FY 2013/14 <br /> budget for consideration in June 2013. <br /> The elimination of Redevelopment Agencies in California in FY 2011/12 has impacted Redwood City and removes <br /> a valuable economic development tool from the City. The reduction of five vacant positions in the Community <br /> Development Department along with receiving a portion of the revenues formerly received by the <br /> Redevelopment Agency has enabled the City to deal with the short-term impacts of the loss of its Redevelopment <br /> Agency. Over the medium to long-term the City will need to find new means of supporting development in <br /> certain areas of the City. <br /> Earlier this year Governor Brown signed the Public Employee Pension Reform Act into law. Over the long term the <br /> changes contained in this law are expected to reduce pension costs, but we do not expect any significant savings <br /> in the near future, and accordingly, are not relying on this legislation to help balance the FY 2013/14 budget. <br /> CONTACTING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT <br /> This Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is intended to provide citizens, taxpayers, investors, and creditors <br /> with a general overview of the City's finances. Questions about this report should be directed to the Finance <br /> Department, at 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063 <br /> 15 <br />