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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />MAY 5, 2015 <br />TITLE: <br />FISCAL YEAR 2014 -15 THIRD QUARTER <br />GENERAL FUND UPDATE — REVENUES <br />AND EXPENDITURES (ACTUALS VERSUS <br />PROJECTIONS) {STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 4, <br />2 b} <br />CITY MA AGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Receive and file. <br />DISCUSSION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ <br />As Recommended <br />❑ <br />As Amended <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 1 at Reading <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />❑ <br />Implementing Resolution <br />❑ <br />Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />The City continues to receive positive news regarding its revenue and management of General <br />Fund expenditures. For the third quarter period (July 2014 — March 2015), total General Fund <br />revenues exceeded budgeted projections by approximately $3.9 million or 3 %. This is largely due <br />to increases in the City's top six revenue sources: Sales Tax, Property Tax, Utility Users Tax, <br />Property Tax In -Lieu of VLF, Business License and Hotel Visitors Tax. <br />We are confident that the City is on target to meet Sales Tax projections due to strong growth in <br />various economic segments such as restaurants /dining and the sale of new automobiles. In <br />addition, Santa Ana continues to experience growth in property values which has translated into <br />higher median home pricing. As a result, the City is in receipt of higher than projected property <br />tax receipts by approximately $1.0 million or 5.4 %. The positive economic climate is reflected in <br />higher than projected Business License Tax by approximately $0.6 million or 7.5% as well as <br />increased occupancy rates for the City's hotels resulting in the City receiving higher than <br />projected Hotel Visitors Tax by approximately $0.7 million or 13.2 %. <br />The largest contributor to the City's positive performance is the City's Utility Users Tax. The <br />overwhelming voter approved measure that was passed with a 75% approval rating included <br />lowering the tax from 6% to 5.5 %, eliminating the annual $11,000 cap, and modernizing the Utility <br />Users Tax language. The City is experiencing a resurgence in Utility Users Tax revenue due to <br />increased demand for utility services. Additionally, Utility Users Tax revenues have now <br />exceeded third quarter estimates by $1.2 million or 7.6 %. <br />29A -1 <br />