FROM:
Dannielle Mauk, Community Services Director
SUBJECT:
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“Measure A” Parks Tax Allocation - FY 2022/2023
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
That Council receive a report on options for the 2022/23 Work Plan for the Town’s allotment of Measure A funds. Staff recommends that the Town Council allocate 70% towards the Memorial Park Improvement Project and 30% towards the San Anselmo Open Space Fund. Based on the 2022/23 estimates provided by the County of Marin ($44,186), this would represent $30,930 for the Memorial Park Fund and $13,256 for the Open Space Fund.
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BACKGROUND
On November 6, 2012, Marin County voters approved the Marin Parks, Open Space, and Farmland Preservation Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance (“MEASURE A”). MEASURE A levies a one-quarter percent transaction and use tax in Marin County and is estimated to generate approximately $10,000,000 per year for the ten-year term of the measure.
You will notice the amount to be received July 1,2022 and January 1,2023 is significantly lower than normal. That is because the tax expired at the end of March 2022, voters will decide whether to renew it June 7, 2022, and revenues would not begin to be collected again until October 1, 2022. We anticipate we will receive the amount in the attachment in July (about 5 months of revenue), receive little or nothing in January 2022, and then (only if voters renew the tax) receive a payment again in July 2023.
DISCUSSION
2013/14 Allocation
In November of 2013, the Town Council voted to allocate 100% of the 2013/14 Measure A funds allotted to San Anselmo, which was estimated to be in the amount of $35,897, towards the purchase of the Sky Ranch property in Fairfax and San Anselmo to be used as open space lands. The 2013/14 Measure A funds ended up exceeding the County’s estimates by $12,175, for a total of $ 48,072. These additional funds were deposited into the Town’s Measure A account for a future designation.
At that time, Council directed staff to engage both the Open Space Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission in the creation of Measure A recommendations for consideration by the Town Council.
2014/15 Allocation
At the Council Meeting held on May 13, 2014, the Council was presented with options from both the Parks & Recreation Commission and Open Space Committee for use of the 2014 Measure A funds. These recommendations included committing 100% of the 2014/15 allocation towards future improvements at Memorial Park. This recommendation took into consideration the fact that 100% of the 2013/14 allocation went towards the Sky Ranch acquisition. The second recommendation was that 90% be allocated towards Memorial Park and 10% be allocated to the Open Space Fund.
During the discussion of these options, members of the Open Space Committee reported that serious negotiations were underway for the purchase of the Sky Ranch property for use as open space and requested that the Council postpone the decision on the 2014/15 Measure A Work Plan until the May 27,2014 Town Council meeting. The Council chose to postpone the decision to May 27, 2014
At the May 27, 2014 Town Council meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the Council decided by a 3 to 2 vote to allocate $55,494 towards the purchase of the Sky Ranch property, and to allocate $66,794 towards future improvements at Memorial Park. The Sky Ranch allocation represented the full allocation from 2013/14 of $48,072 plus 10% of the estimated 2014/15 funding or $7,422.
2015/16 Allocation
In preparation for the decision regarding the 2015/16 Measure A Work Plan and funding allocations, staff met with the Open Space Committee to discuss the development of a unified and equitable formula to present to the Town Council regarding the allocation of the annual Measure A funding. Staff defined the urgent need for accumulating funds for improvements at Memorial Park and Open Space Committee members outlined the many exciting and complex opportunities existing both currently and on the horizon. After this discussion and some negotiation, it was agreed that a split of 70% towards Memorial Park improvements and 30% towards the Open Space Fund was a good recommendation to bring to the Town Council.
The Town Council approved the recommendation, and since 2015/16 the Measure A funds have been split, designating 70% towards Memorial Park improvements and 30% towards the Open Space Fund. This recommendation is intended to be renewed each year pending any significant changes.
2022/23 Allocation
The estimate for the Measure A funds provided by the County of Marin for 2022/23 is $44.186. In preparation for the decision regarding the 2022/23 Measure A Work Plan and funding allocations, staff contacted the Open Space Committee and confirmed that they would like to continue the 70/30 split with Memorial Park and Open Space.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the Town Council allocate 70% towards the Memorial Park Improvement Project and 30% towards the San Anselmo Open Space Fund. Based on the 2022/23 estimates provided by the County of Marin ($44,186), this would represent $30,930 for the Memorial Park Fund and $13,256 for the Open Space Fund.