Get involved to learn more about Concord’s serious budget issues

As you may be aware, the city of Concord has been struggling with budget challenges for quite some time. And, the problem will only increase over time if something significant doesn’t change.

We are dipping into General Fund Reserve, and Measure Q is propping up the budget. Measure Q is a voter-approved, half-cent use and transaction tax that was established to protect and maintain essential city services. It was first approved by voters in November 2010 with a five-year sunset. Then 77 percent of the voters approved an extension of the tax on the November 2014 ballot.

Measure Q is set to expire on March 31, 2025. The fiscal year 2019-’20 budget uses $7.65 million of Measure Q revenues, with FY 2020-’21 using $10.9 million from Measure Q.

Even with the Measure Q funds through 2025, the city will be facing a $33 million deficit.

I can’t possibly address the various issues that are causing the gap in revenues and expenses in this column. Rather, I invite you to do your homework, be engaged and come to city events about the issue.

The city has put together a tremendous resource on revenues and expenses, which is available at cityofconcord.org/831/Budgeting-for-the-Future.

Near the bottom of the webpage, there’s a link to concordca.opengov.com/ so you can really drill down on the city’s budget. It’s a remarkable site with a lot of information. A similar amount of information in paper form would gobble up many D-ring binders.

The challenges we face are large. The ideas we need must be bold. So, I encourage you to engage, participate and send your feedback and ideas to me or your City Council district representative:

• Mayor Tim McGallian, tim.mcgallian@cityofconcord.org.
• Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano, dominic.aliano@cityofconcord.org.
• Councilman Edi Birsan, edi.birsan@cityofconcord.org.
• Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister, laura.hoffmeister@cityofconcord.org.
• Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer, carlyn.obringer@cityofconcord.org.
Also, please sign-up for updates on budget matters, and other matters of interest to you, at cityofconcord.org/notifyme.

Jason Laub is Chief Operating Officer at RAD Urban and is a City of Concord Planning Commissioner. Email questions or comments to jlaub.concordplanning@gmail.com