FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS:
Accurate, but misleading. Budgeted numbers for roads all relate to maintenance, not required capital improvements. Not part of the budget, capital expenditures could be a significant future expense.
The report indicates initial revenue recoveries reduce over a 10-year period of time. Reduction of revenues over time is not discussed in the report.
First year services must be provided by the County, but repayable by Alamo over a 5-year period of time. Revenue and expenses look better immediately following incorporation than would otherwise be the case.
The negotiated payment of 3-million-dollars from Alamo to the County, due 10-years out, represents a significant financial obligation.
REVENUE SERVICES:
Special district will be taken over by the City with all revenues going into the City coffers. SPECIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS THE ROUND HILL P5, will become regular sheriff services, EVEN THOUGH HIGHER TAXES WILL BE PAID FOR THOSE SERVICES.
CONTRACT SERVICES:
As a CONTRACT CITY, Alamo will not change in types of services, or even scope of nature, from current conditions. If Alamo incorporates and operates with a handful of employees, and the County provides all the same services using the same personnel, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INCORPORATION?
THE ARGUMENT THAT ALAMO PAYS MORE IN TAXES THAN IT RECEIVES IN SERVICES:
The study suggests the County provides more services to Alamo than it received in tax payments. The relatively low 3-Million-Dollar negotiated revenue equality payment suggests that is the case. If the County provides more services than revenue it receives, then it is expected that the level of service would be reduced if provided by Alamo based on Alamo's own tax revenues
THE GOVERNMENT CONCEPT:
Ruled by its own City Council, Alamo as a CONTRACT CITY, would still be subject to County government. The County has horrendous budget problems and is not going to provide contract services for less money than the cost thereof. As stated in the meeting, it is prohibitively expensive to create a city police department, suggesting that the projections regarding expenditures may be wildly inaccurate.
Planning and Community Development is the single largest component of expenditure. On the other hand, the studies assume Alamo to be to be built out with limited projected growth. For such a large portion of the budget toward planning issues suggests that Alamo would be embroiled in the same disputes in which both Lafayette and Orinda are engaged. Along with homeowner associations and County control now in place, it suggests a great deal of interference with PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, with substantial legal expense to the property owners and the City.
It is a steep price to pay for Alamo controlled by a City Council. A city manager, city attorney and staff, which tends to grow to find things to keep it busy, is not cheap. If all services are the same for a contract-city, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INCORPORATION?
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