DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Payment to Bexar County Elections Office for the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election
SUMMARY:
This item includes Board consideration and approval of the appropriation of funds from the Pre-K 4 SA FY 2020 Adopted Budget fund balance in an amount up to $900,000 to reimburse the City of San Antonio for costs associated with Election Services provided by the Bexar County Elections Office for the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In August 2012, City Council authorized the creation of the San Antonio Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation and in November 2012, San Antonio voters approved a 1/8th of a cent sales tax for the benefit of the Corporation to fund the Pre-K 4 SA Initiative for an initial eight-year period. The full collection of sales and use tax previously authorized by the voters in November 2012 will end on March 31, 2021.
City Council voted on February 13, 2020 to authorize a special election to be held on May 2, 2020 to consider reauthorizing the sales and use tax. Ordinance 2020-02-13-0774 authorized the City to execute an agreement with Bexar County in an amount up to $900,000 for Election Services provided by the Bexar County Elections Office, and prescribed that the election be held jointly with other participating local political subdivisions located within Bexar County. Further, the ordinance authorized the City to appropriate funds in an amount up to $900,000 from the Pre-K 4 SA FY 2020 Adopted Budget fund balance to cover the cost of the special election, pending approval by the San Antonio Early Childhood Education Municipal Development Corporation Board of Directors.
If approved by voters, the renewed sales tax would be authorized for an additional eight year period, commencing on April 1, 2021, for the benefit of the San Antonio Early Childhood Municipal Development Corporation, in accordance with Chapter 379A of the Texas Local Government Code.
ISSUE:
Approval of this item will authorize appropriation of funds from the Pre-K 4 SA FY 2020 Adopted Budget fund balance in an amount up to $900,000 to reimburse the City of San Antonio for costs associated with Election Services provided by the Bexar County Elections Office for the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the Board does not approve the appropriation of up to $900,000 for payment of the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election, staff would need to develop an alternate funding mechanism for covering the cost of the election. However, this would go against the recommendation made by the City Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Up to $900,000 from the Pre-K 4 SA FY 2020 Adopted Budget fund balance will be allocated for the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the appropriation of funds from the Pre-K 4 SA FY 2020 Adopted Budget fund balance in an amount up to $900,000 to reimburse the City of San Antonio for costs associated with Election Services provided by the Bexar County Elections Office for the May 2, 2020 Sales and Use Tax Election.