Business sales, property values up in Yorba Linda

Overall, businesses in Yorba Linda continue to see an increase in sales and property values remain on an upward track, based on the latest estimates of tax revenue expected to fill city coffers by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

The new, promising numbers were forwarded to City Council members late last month in a report updated to the mid-point of the 2016-17 fiscal year by Finance Director Scott Catlett.

Here are some highlights from his six-page report:

--The current projection of the city's 1 percent portion of the 7.75 percent sales tax is pegged at $7.7 million, up nearly 12 percent from $6.9 million estimated when the council adopted a two-year (2015-16 and 2016-17) budget, which represents a sizable sales gain for business. Sales tax is the city's second-highest revenue source.

--Increased citywide property values have boosted the dollars expected from property tax collections to $17.6 million, up more than 7 percent from the $16.4 million projected when the budget was adopted. Property tax is the city's highest revenue source.

--Projected increases in other revenue sources, such as engineering, planning and administrative fees and charges; park and recreation income; and property transfer

taxes, among other items, result in a total income projection of nearly $34.6 million.

That “operating revenue” figure is 7.3 percent more than estimated when the budget was adopted. Franchise fees, occupancy taxes and building permit fees are as first expected.

--Of course, the spending side of the budget also shows growth, with $352,059 added by council and City Manager Mark Pulone previously, and $939,251 more approved Feb. 21.

These expenses include salary hikes for sheriff's department personnel and city employees, security camera upgrades, higher costs for animal control and tree maintenance service and de-silting basins due to the recent storms.

--Also, the city's Landscape Maintenance Assessment District will spend an added $469,865, with $154,136 coming from the city General Fund, since some of the district's special benefit zones will spend more than collected in property owner fees.

And the council has authorized $1.6 million more from the capital improvement budget for expenses related to the ongoing Town Center project. These added costs are for a retaining wall, landscaping and design for the parking structure; public streets; acquiring property and easements; and construction management, bonds and permit and plan check fees.

--Lastly, income through June 30 is expected to outpace expenditures by $136,000, putting the operating reserve at 66 percent of general fund expenditures, well above council's long- standing policy of holding 50 percent of a year's expenditures in reserve.

Catlett noted: “Staff plans to discuss options for the use of reserves over 60 percent when the (next) two-year budget is presented later this fiscal year.”