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Home My WebLink About2017 Winter SaratoganSAR ATOGANthe winter 2017 The City of Saratoga ended last fiscal year in a strong financial position, with property and sales tax revenues exceeding expectations and operating expenditures lower than anticipated. Net operations resulted in distributing $1.4 million to capital improvement projects, and $500,000 to reserves. With the improved economy, the current year’s budget reflects the City Council’s continuing commitment to fund services at pre-recessionary levels, and enhance the quality of life in the Saratoga community. Priorities include heightened roadway maintenance, code compliance, community events, communication outreach, and the implementation of public safety programs. The City Council is careful and thoughtful in its budget development, and this practice will continue to make Saratoga an even better place for the people who live, work, and visit the community, as well as ensuring the City maintains financial stability in present and future years. Bright Fiscal Future Be There! Learn about the current state of the city and upcoming projects at the As of January 1, it is now illegal to hold and operate electronic devices while driving. Devices must be mounted on the dash, center console, or lower corner of the windshield. Drivers must also use hands-free technology, such as Bluetooth or voice command. Keep track of crime in your area. Visit www.crimereports.com Be notified when emergencies happen in your area. Sign up at www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc Quick Tip from Captain Rich Like what you’re reading? Subscribe to The Saratogan and have it sent to your email account automatically! Visit: www.saratoga.ca.us/saratogan Visit: www.saratoga.ca.us/StateoftheCity 2017 State of the City Address on Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Civic Theater Photograph by Tina Case Saratoga’s Budget at a Glance General Fund Revenue Sources: $20.2 Million General Fund Expenditures: $19.7 Million Property Tax56% SalesTax5.6% Franchise Fees 11.1% Fees, Licenses & Permits 7.4% Charge for Services9.1% Local Taxes, Interest &Rentals10.8% Salaries & Benefits38.5% Consultant&ContractServices11.8% Sheriff's Services26.3% Operational Support12.9% Schools (Includes ERAF Shift) 65.0% Santa Clara County 13.0% Fire District 10.2% Other Special Districts 4.7% Property Tax is Saratoga’s largest revenue source. However, Saratoga is a “low tax” city, meaning it receives the minimum allocation allowed by State law. Due to this low-tax status, City services are limited. Saratoga operates with a small staff and many functions are delivered by contract. As the below illustration shows, the City receives only about six cents of every Property Tax dollar residents pay. Countywide Sales Tax Passed by voters in November 2016, Measure B will go into effect on April 1, 2017. Once it becomes effective, the sales and use tax rate for the City of Saratoga is anticipated to increase to 9.0%. This funding will be used for road repairs and transportation improvements to provide commute relief in Santa Clara County. City of Saratoga 6.0% Saratoga Property Tax Distribution *Agency distribution varies by property tax district Water District 1.6% Saratoga’s General Fund budget provides for the City’s primary operations. The charts below represent the FY 2016/17 revenue and expenditure budgets by category. UAL 2.5% Community Events & Grants1.2% Operational Charges & Supplies6.8% Capital Improvements Annual Roadway Improvements Project Timeline: Ongoing The City invested $1.5 million in the Annual Roadway Improvements project this year. This program funds ongoing street resurfacing and maintenance repairs for the City’s 135 miles of roadway, including the Pavement Management Program (PMP). The PMP plays a key role in extending the lifetime of roadways and minimizes the need for larger and more costly maintenance in the future. The 2016 PMP was primarily focused on roads in the northern part of Saratoga and the 2017 PMP will begin this spring. Website Redesign Project Timeline: Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 This project will update the City's website to incorporate advancements in technology and design, bringing improved structure and navigation, a new appearance, translation options, and mobile-friendly access to better help the public navigate the City's website and access information. Prospect Road Improvement Project Construction Begins: Spring 2017 This project will improve a 1.9-mile section of Prospect Road between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Lawrence Expressway. Upgrades include median landscaping, ADA-compliant ramps, sidewalks, bus shelters, and bicycle detector loops. About 88% of this $4.75 million project will be paid for through OBAG grant funding. Citywide Transportation Needs Assessment Project Timeline: Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 This $50,000 project will investigate transportation needs for the City based on a comprehensive look at all demographics, including senior transportation needs. The study will look at destination patterns of Saratoga residents as well as opportunities and constraints connected to public transportation. Opportunities to expand the study with other West Valley cities will be explored. For more detailed information on these and other projects, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/currentprojects The City of Saratoga has an ongoing process through which it identifies, prioritizes, and develops a multi-year plan for major capital projects. “Capital Improvement Plan” projects enhance the quality of life in Saratoga by upgrading the City’s roadways, parks, facilities, and other infrastructure. These projects are approved by the City Council during the budget process and many are funded through grants. To learn more about The Saratogan, make comments, suggest story ideas, or just ask a question, contact Lauren Pettipiece at lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us or 408.868.1275. You can also find The Saratogan online and sign up for email alerts at www.saratoga.ca.us/saratogan. CITY o f S ARATO G A CALIFO R N IA1956 Ask Our Staff featuring Mary Furey Have a question? Send your question(s) to lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us or call (408) 868-1275. Q: I noticed a recent City Council agenda item to review and accept the City’s annual audit. What is the City’s annual audit? A: After the conclusion of the City’s fiscal year (July 1st – June 30th), the City completes closing entries and finalizes the financial records. Independent auditors conduct an audit of the City’s financial records in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards to ensure legal and fiscal accountability to the public. The City then prepares a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report that presents: - General information on the City’s financial structure, services, and activities - Audited basic financial statements and required supplementary information - Statistical data on trend and nonfinancial information Saratoga has received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting award for 22 straight years, ensuring the City’s financial reports meet high standards in governmental accounting and financial reporting. Annual reports by fiscal year are available online at www.saratoga.ca.us/audit Mary Furey is the Finance and Administrative Services Director for the City of Saratoga. She is responsible for overseeing Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology. &Q A Mark Your Calendar! Community Event & Street Clos u r e Grant Programs Applications Available: January 18 Due: March 1 www.saratoga.ca.us/eventgrants Neighborhood Watch Grant Program Applications Available: Now, while funds last www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Enrollment All existing PG&E custombers w i l l be automatically enrolled into SV C E in three phases, beginning in April 2017. To learn more and v i e w your options, visit www.svcleanenergy.org/ Preventing Package Theft • Request a signature upon delivery. • Have packages shipped to work or a trusted neighbor/friend who will be home. • Send packages to secured locations for pick up - USPS, FedEx, UPS, and Amazon Locker offer options. • Call 911 to report suspicious activity. • Don’t forget to have your mail and newspaper delivery stopped while you are away. Storm Preparation • Clean gutters on a regular basis to direct water away from homes. • Utilize sandbags to keep water off your property. Pre-filled sandbags are available at the City's Corporation Yard during business hours. The City also has a 24-hour sandbag station outside of the Corporation Yard. • Report fallen trees, landslides, and flooding on roads and public property: Emergencies: 911 Weekdays (6am-3:30pm): City of Saratoga at (408) 868-1245 Weeknights (after 3:30pm) & Weekends: Santa Clara County Communications at (408) 299-2507