The Issues

By Eric Lucan

Solution: In order to close the gap, I think all of the following need to be evaluated:

• Possibility of selling assets (land & unused facilities) and utilizing gains to generate ongoing revenue
• Review of staffing levels, pensions, and benefits
• Review of all consultant and contract fees
• Buying office space instead of leasing at $700k/year
• Eliminate redundancies and share resources with other districts (school, water, fire, sanitation)
• Long term sustainability and revenue generation (additional retail, restaurants, redevelopment)

Solution: The city needs permanent office space for their city staff. Currently the city spends close to $700,000 per year out of their general fund to lease office space. If the redevelopment agency paid back just half of the $12 million owed to the general fund, the city could potentially purchase permanent office space and see an immediate $700,000 per year return on their investment (11.5%) which a portion of could be used to increase the sworn officer count.

3. Repair Novato's Infrastructure + Novato has several city facilities with years of deferred maintenance and new facilities are being opened in 2009 and 2010 with no funds in place for new maintenance.

Solution: In order to prevent the situation from getting worse, the city council should consider instituting a policy on capital improvement that would require a built in funding mechanism for maintenance of any new facilities.