From a City of Piedmont press release on June 2:
The Piedmont City Council will hold public hearings on the city’s proposed FY2023-2024 budget at their regular meetings on Monday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 20. The Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee will present their report on the proposed budget at the June 5, 2023 meeting. The Council is expected to adopt the budget on June 20, 2023.
Review committee endorses proposed budget; encourages more work on longterm infrastructure needs
The City’s Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, a volunteer body of eight residents appointed by the City Council for their subject expertise, has undertaken a thorough analysis of the proposed budget since it was released on May 5, delving deep into the details of expenditures, revenues, staffing, and long-term projections at three public meetings over the past month.
In their letter to the City Council, the Committee states:
The proposed budget for FY23-24 reflects the City’s continued commitment to conservative budgeting and financial discipline. This approach ensures that the City can continue to provide high quality public services, replace aging equipment, and address infrastructure repairs, while retaining a strong General Fund. Further, the City continues to fund reserves to handle potential increases in pension and retiree health care liabilities and can accommodate those costs without impacting services.While the Committee broadly endorses the proposed budget, the letter encourages the City to expand on recent work to quantify and plan for long-term infrastructure needs, including replacement or renovation of aging buildings, stormwater and storm drain infrastructure, and road conditions.
The Committee’s letter further encourages the City to carefully examine revenue sources, suggesting the City consider modernizing the existing Utility User Tax, take steps to assess and improve collection of the Real Estate Rental Tax and Business License Tax, and increase the Real Property Transfer Tax, which was last raised in 1993 and is currently one of the lowest transfer taxes among our neighboring cities.
Give feedback in person, online, or by email
Community members can share comments on the proposed budget in advance of the public hearings by email or speak at the meeting virtually or in-person:
• Next in-person meeting: Tuesday, June 20, 6 p.m., Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Ave.
• Comment remotely: Participate in the Council meetings via Zoom at https://piedmontca-gov.zoom.us/j/86233381014
• Email: send comments to citycouncil@piedmont.ca.gov
All budget documents can be downloaded from the City’s website HERE.
For questions about the proposed budget, contact Finance Director Michael Szczech at
mszczech@piedmont.ca.gov.