Increased Piedmont Parcel Taxes Proposed: New Electrical Program Involving All Piedmonters
Higher Parcel Taxes for Piedmont Services and Sewers –
The Piedmont City Council will meet at City Hall, 120 Vista Avenue, on Monday, May 21, 2018, 7:30 p.m. to consider the items on their AGENDA. The meeting will be broadcast live on Channel 27 and from the City website under online videos.
05/21/18 – Presentation from Boy Scouts of America, Piedmont Council
05/21/18 – PUBLIC HEARING Regarding the Proposed Budget and Fee Proposals for FY 18-19 and the Levy of the Municipal Services Tax and Sewer Tax
Parcel taxes for City services and the Sewer Fund Tax are proposed to be increased.
a. Presentation of Report from the Budget Advisory & Financial Planning Committee
b. Report on the FY 18-19 Budget Proposal
Majority of Piedmont’s costs are for personnel. Excerpt below:
“While continuing the cost-sharing agreements and significantly reducing our future obligations for retiree medical, the new contracts approved by the City Council include adjustments to base pay designed to bring employee compensation to within -3% of the median for comparable cities in our region.
In addition, employees will receive compensation adjustments in each of the next three years designed to result in a 3% annual net pay increase. These compensation changes, after almost 7 years of declining net pay, bring our employees closer to median a result in an overall 9% increase in salaries as compared to the prior year budget, which conservatively assumed a 2% salary increase. In addition, as compared to the prior year projection (2017-18), the most significant changes in personnel costs are as follows:
Health Insurance – Increasing $266,400 over last year primarily due to an estimated 10% increase in medical premiums and the conversion of two positions from non-benefited to benefit eligible. Premiums are adjusted by health care providers on January 1, 2019 and any increase above the established baseline will be shared equally between the City and employees.
Retirement – Employee retirement costs are increasing $248,900 over last year. After a 4- year phased approach to benefit cost sharing, all City employees have assumed the full cost of their “Employee Contribution” in 2017-18. In addition, employees will continue to contribute a portion of the Employer’s Contribution. In 2018-19, CalPERS will begin phasing in the lowering of the discount rate from 7.5% to 7.0%. As a result, the City expects its contribution and unfunded liability payments to increase by 10%. In total, the City expects to pay approximately 18.3% of salaries in 2018-19 compared to 17.0% in the prior year.”
05/21/18 – Consideration of the Default Electrical Service Option for East Bay Community Energy Residential Customers
Piedmont’s proposed environmentally focused electrical energy program will impact all Piedmont PG&E ratepayers. The City Council action being considered is an effort to lessen the use of energy sources determined to harm the environment, such as gas, oil, and coal.
READ the report above for an explanation.
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To send comments to the City Council as a whole, and/or regarding a City Council agenda item, please email citycouncil@ci.piedmont.ca.us. <CLICK
To send via U.S. Mail, please use the following address:
City Council
City of Piedmont
120 Vista Avenue
Piedmont, CA 94611
Hey! We all LOVE more parcel taxes!!! Particularly those who are retired and on fixed income.
The transfer tax and property tax revenues are both coming in well above protections. The General Fund Reserve is at $5M, maxed out at 20% by City Charter. All other reserve funds are at $3M. Why do we need to raise the parcel tax?
Garrett: because “we” can!
Council approved both increased Parcel and Sewer tax and the green energy plan which will cost average Piedmonter $7 more a month if they choose to stay in program. The Mayor, opposed to the plan, chided supporters for their opposition to the tax increases while supporting the energy increase. Apples and oranges – The energy plan has an opt out provision so only those who want to will pay. Can’t say that about the Parcel tax. Opponents object to the tax increases when City revenues are so high, not the tax itself.