City of Vacaville staff describe $12 million structural deficit, propose one‑cent local sales tax for voters

At a city-hosted community meeting, City of Vacaville staff presented details of what they described as a roughly $12 million structural shortfall in the general fund and outlined a proposed one‑cent (1%) local sales tax as the principal option under consideration.

City Manager Savita Chaudhary and Assistant City Manager GeorgeAnne MeggersSmith led the briefing, with Police Chief Chris Polin and other department leaders describing service levels and cost pressures. Chaudhary told attendees the sessions are educational and that “no decisions have been made” as staff gather feedback and refine options for the City Council.

Why this matters: the city projects recurring costs are growing faster than ongoing revenues. Staff said the city’s total budget is about $295 million, with the general fund roughly $158 million, and that salary and public‑safety costs make up the largest share of ongoing spending. To avoid deeper, immediate cuts to services such as police, fire and street maintenance, staff said a sustainable revenue option is needed.

What staff proposed and why: officials presented a single‑cent (1%) sales tax option and said smaller increments (a quarter‑cent or a half‑cent) would not generate enough recurring revenue to close the identified $12 million gap. Chaudhary said a local sales tax gives the City Council local control over spending priorities and that a passed measure would not begin producing new revenue until the next fiscal year, a timing factor that influenced the recommended rate.

Budget context and one‑time revenues: presenters noted near‑term volatility in sales and property tax receipts, and cited a one‑time $7 million receipt tied to a Genentech-to-Lonza transaction that was not repeatable. Staff emphasized that Measure M funds have supported roads and public safety but do not fully close the structural shortfall.

Public safety and operational pressures: Police Chief Chris Polin described department metrics and recent investments in technology. “Our response time is six minutes,” Polin said, and he reported year‑over‑year reductions he quantified as “nearly 8%” for crimes against people and “nearly 18%” for crimes against property. He also cited a $4.4 million state grant the department received in recent years to address organized retail theft and described a real‑time information center that uses drones and an integrated camera network shared with local schools.

Cost drivers identified by staff included inflation, higher vehicle and equipment prices, and mandated future costs such as vehicle electrification. The city also flagged capital and equipment shortfalls — for example, an upcoming radio system upgrade and a gap between fleet‑replacement need and current set‑asides.

Steps already taken and outreach plans: staff said they implemented 2.5% budget reductions across departments, producing roughly $9.2 million in savings, instituted hiring freezes and delayed some positions (then restored several firefighter/paramedic positions after overtime costs rose). The city reported conducting a statistically valid voter survey and holding a series of community meetings (this event was described as the 12th of 12). Staff said further surveys and public reporting will continue and that survey results will go back to the City Council in June.

Oversight and accountability: if voters approve a local sales tax, staff proposed several safeguards including a citizen oversight committee, annual third‑party audits and a public financial transparency portal (CityofVacaville.Finance.Socrata.com) to track expenditures against ballot commitments.

Public input: attendees asked about survey distribution and local property issues; residents raised neighborhood safety concerns and e‑bike activity near schools. Staff encouraged continued engagement and emphasized that any placement of a measure on the ballot and final spending priorities would be decided by the City Council after additional analysis and public input.

What happens next: staff said they will continue outreach and present refined survey results to the City Council in June. No formal Council action or ballot placement was announced at the meeting.