■ Members to hear that proposed 1-cent hike has backing of staff, residents
Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani will tell the Benicia Finance Committee on Tuesday why city staff is recommending a 1-cent increase in sales tax — and why they believe the city’s residents will support the hike, too.
The panel also will hear a consultant describe the city’s information readiness level.
The Council, which has taken steps toward letting residents decide Nov. 4 whether to approve the sales tax increase, heard a similar report July 22 that described how most people who live here would rather pay the higher tax than experience a cut in municipal services.
The proposed measure would increase Benicia sales tax from 7.65 percent, one of the lowest rates in the Bay Area, to 8.675 percent, which would be comparable to the amounts set in Fairfield and Vallejo.
A simple majority — 50 percent plus one — is needed for the measure to pass. Should voters support the increase, it would become effective April 1, 2015.
The tax is expected to raise about $3.7 million annually, and the money would be applied to public safety, emergency response, neighborhood police patrols, crime prevention programs, parks maintenance, youth programs, road repair and other expenses.
In other business Tuesday, interim Finance Director Brenda Olwin will introduce representatives of NexLevel Information Technology, who will describe what she called “the city’s current information environment and systems implementation readiness.”
She wrote the committee July 21, saying she has approved a one-page timeline of activities that would lead to improvements in the city’s finance reporting system.
Among those steps was the hiring of NexLevel Information Technology, Carmichael, to prepare a needs assessment as well as the city’s readiness to upgrade its computer system.
A company employee will describe the surveys’ results to the committee, she wrote.
The Council will hear a similar report Sept. 16, after which it may issue a request for proposals.
The department initially thought the city’s longtime vendor, SunGard, would be able to streamline how many reports are generated with its new product, OneSolution.
However, Benicia city computers weren’t programmed to accept the upgrade, and the cost to overhaul the system was estimated at between $300,000 and $500,000.
That caused Olwin and City Manager Brad Kilger to seek other options, some of which appear to cost no less, but would be less expensive to operate in the long term.
Also Tuesday, the committee will review the June warrant register, a record of payments the city has made; a report on June activity of all city funds; and the quarterly General Fund, Wastewater and Water funds report.
In addition, the panel will review its work plan.
The Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Commission Room of City Hall, 250 East L St.
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