Make Oakland Better Now! (MOBN!) is concerned that the actions required to balance the budget will be harmful to essential city services. Therefore, in adopting a budget, we recommend that…
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating financial challenges for all levels of government, and the City of Oakland is no exception. Numerous revenues will decrease, if they haven't already, as the need for municipal services continues. This downturn occurs at a time when the city was facing very significant financial challenges due to underfunded long-term obligations and the emergence of new challenges such as homelessness.
Oakland’s City Council passed a resolution to submit a parcel tax to voters on the March primary ballot in 2020. The tax is expected to generate more than $20 million dollars per year. No less than 60% of the net proceeds for parks, landscape maintenance and recreational services, and 30% percent for services to address homelessness.
(This is a post in our Budget Bits series, following Oakland’s mid-cycle budget policy and process. Read our previous updates: post one, two, three, and four.)
On June 24th, the City Council unanimously adopted its two-year, $3.29 billion budget. (The full budget document can be read here.) The final adoption reflected a combination of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget and augmented by $44.4 million in amendments proposed in the “Oakland Together Proposal,” which was a combination of amendments by numerous council Members. The Mayor’s Proposed Budget included the funding needed to continue many necessary city services and required funding for continuing obligations such as bond payments, retirement and healthcare. The Council amendments added increased services in a number of critical areas.
Make Oakland Better Now! believes that many of the service issues presented in both the Mayor’s proposed budget and in the adopted budget are critical. However, in the Adopted Budget, the Council took little action to significantly pay down our City’s long-term unfunded liabilities of $2.7 billion nor did it significantly increase the protections in the Rainy-Day Fund. Oakland also has unfunded Capital projects of $2 billion.
We are now in longest positive economic surge since WWII. However, there have been numerous indications that economic conditions may change during the period of this two-year budget. How will Oakland respond? (more…)
Tonight, at a special meeting of the City Council, the Council will receive the recommended amendments to the Mayor's proposed budget from City Council President Rebecca Kaplan.
(This is a post in our Budget Bits series, following Oakland's mid-cycle budget policy and process. Read our previous updates here and here.) The Oakland City Budget is now in…
As the city of Oakland prepares its 2019 - 2021 budget, Make Oakland Better Now! has reviewed the city's five-year economic forecast and budget briefing, two reports that will shape actions in the months ahead. Clearly, the city is facing significant budget challenges.
For many years and several budget cycles, Make Oakland Better Now! has provided Oakland residents with tools to help understand the city budget. We’re proud to continue our analysis, as Oakland’s Mayor, City Administrator, and City Council move toward adoption of the midcycle, 2019-2021, budget.
(Photo:Jeremy Brooks)
On Tuesday, June 19, Oakland’s City Council will be considering the usual mid-cycle adjustment to Oakland’s budget. The administration’s initial proposal is here. (Its supplemental reports are here and here.) We’ve spent much time evaluating all of the current possibilities, and considering them in light of our priorities: public safety, public works, transparency and accountability, homelessness reduction and budget responsibility. Our recommendations to the Mayor, City Administrator and City Council are shared below: (more…)
As we analyze Mayor Libby Schaaf's proposed 2017-2019 budget, we see there are many important issues, some long-term and some short-term. Make Oakland Better Now! briefly looks at long-term budget issues involving the Oakland Police Department.
