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Steve Rogers, Yountville City Manager, Eric Figueroa, Martinez City Manager, and Kim Summers, Murrieta City Manager
Article Features by Jill Oviatt

A fiscal year for the books
Managing city budgets as a deadly pandemic ravages livelihoods and revenues

California cities have been on the front lines for nearly a year taking action to protect their residents and businesses and maintain the delivery of essential city services, despite unplanned expenses and revenue shortfalls brought about by the pandemic. Three California city managers reflect on the past year and how on earth one manages a city budget with so much uncertainty, and so little support from the state and federal governments.

City of Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg delivers speech about #ALLINSAC effort.
Article Local Works by Lisa Yarbrough

Sacramento’s Measure U helps maintain critical services and advance equity during pandemic

The City of Sacramento is one of many California cities to put a general sales tax measure on the  ballot to bring in much-needed revenue for local projects. Voter approval to renew or raise local sales tax has given some cities a sustained source of revenue to maintain critical services, invest in local infrastructure, and create additional amenities for the community.

City of Escondido public works employees remove graffiti.
Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

City of Escondido develops innovative and collaborative program to eliminate graffiti

Graffiti destroys property, costs cities hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and can blight entire communities. To address graffiti issues, the City of Escondido created a custom designed smartphone app to crowdsource information from the community to help keep their city clean and free of graffiti. 

Article Features by Lloyd de Llamas

Adding to the challenge – the increasingly volatile sales tax

The coronavirus recession has eroded city budgets in many ways, leaving many tax revenue streams damaged and lasting impacts on cities that will continue to cut deep in the fiscal year ahead. As local governments grapple with the revenue loss and spending increases associated with the pandemic, it’s important to review the trends and forecasts of the revenue streams upon which a city most heavily relies and adjust accordingly. 

Article Executive Director's Message by Carolyn Coleman

Inspiring city leaders prepare to meet challenges head on

While our local leaders have lofty aspirations for an equitable recovery, they also recognize that our hopes and dreams cannot be accomplished without a strong local-state-federal partnership. 2021 will be a year when we will need to fight for our cities more than ever before. Working side by side with the inspiring local officials leading our communities, the League of California Cities remains committed to helping cities meet these challenges head on in 2021. 

Water supply cover
Article Legal Notes by Michael G. Colantuono

A legal win for city finance – Supreme Court holds utility rates not subject to referendum

Referendum is a power granted to voters, essentially allowing the electorate to put statutes adopted by legislative bodies to a vote of the people. However, the recent California Supreme Court decision in Wilde v. City of Dunsmuir held that water rates are not subject to referendum, making this an important win for public utilities and local governments, and boosting stability in local finance.

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