Oversight Panel Says Benicia Can't Trace Two Tax Measures

Benicia's volunteer tax watchdogs told the City Council on Sept. 15, 2026, that two voter-approved taxes flow into the general fund with no way for the public to follow the money. The council took no vote on the report but signaled support for clearer budget access. It also approved one-year labor deals worth about $955,000, overrode staff 3-2 on a roofing oversight contract and advanced a marina fishing ban.

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• Measures B and C rated "needs improvement" as oversight committee calls for tax-measure landing pages
• $955,000 one-year labor deals approved 5-0 without raises, after a resident objected to consent placement
• Council overrides staff 3-2, awarding construction management for a roof job to lower-cost Concord
• Fishing ban at Benicia Marina float clears first reading 5-0 after boat-damage complaints

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Watchdogs: Two Taxes Vanish Into the General Fund

The basics: Benicia's Independent Oversight Committee, which has worked together for two years, scored three local tax measures on transparency, alignment and execution. Measure F, a specific-use tax, scored highest. Measures B and C, which feed the general fund, were rated "needs improvement."

Why it matters: The committee warned that taxes voters cannot trace undermine public confidence, a risk if the city asks voters for new revenue.

Where things stand: The committee's presenter said the general-fund measures cannot be evaluated against their purpose.

"Measure B is untraceable, so alignment cannot be evaluated," said the Independent Oversight Committee presenter.

The committee said Measure C lost its capital-expenditure tracking and oversight in 2022 without notice to taxpayers. It also flagged the city's CalPERS unfunded liability, the gap between promised pension benefits and the assets set aside to pay them. The committee recommended:

• Landing pages for each tax measure and for CalPERS obligations
• A published spending plan for each measure
• Public release of the city's priority-based budgeting scores

Priority-based budgeting ranks city programs against community goals to guide spending decisions.

The other side: Councilmember Terry Scott objected to comparing a single-use tax with general-fund taxes.

"I thought the scoring was unfair when you measured B and C and F," said Councilmember Scott.

The committee responded that it did not use an aggregate score. The presenter added that "you need to be able to show where the money is going." Councilmember Lionel Largaespada pressed for details on how the scoring rubric distinguished ratings.

Follow the slides: Staff then presented a breakdown of how each measure supports city departments. Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Sarah Shawky said the measures fund roughly a third of city services.

Mayor Steve Young zeroed in on a "General Services" category holding 16% of the money.

"We're putting a big chunk of money in a category that's not really a department," said Mayor Young.

"General Services is essentially citywide expenses that are not specific to a single department's operations," said Shawky. She said priority-based budgeting would reallocate those costs.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: This was an informational item, and the council took no vote. Mayor Young called the budget hard to find and asked for follow-up on a landing page and on tying expenditures to revenue.

"If you have to go drill down two or three steps to get to a page that gives you the information, that's a problem," he said.

Taxpayers and the oversight committee gain leverage if landing pages materialize. City staff face pressure to show how general-fund dollars connect to the taxes voters approved.

What's next: No timeline was set. Watch for staff to return with landing-page and priority-based budgeting materials.

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Labor Deals Pass, Market Gap Remains

Why it matters: The one-year contracts cost up to $955,000. But 48 of 59 surveyed job classifications pay below market, so compensation pressure returns in next year's talks.

Where things stand: The memorandums of understanding (MOUs), which are negotiated contracts with employee bargaining units, were placed on the consent calendar. A resident objected that the contracts' health insurance, education reimbursement and comp time costs were not public.

"I think the public has a right to know," said a public commenter.

Human Resources Director Kim Imboden said staff stayed within the council's parameters.

"The estimated cost for this one-year agreement citywide is about $955,000," said Imboden.

She said that figure assumes full staffing and is mostly one-time money. "So everything that was done for this year is non-PERSable," she said, meaning the payments do not count toward pensions or add to CalPERS costs.

Imboden said employees wanted cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), but the city was constrained by uncertainty involving Valero. She laid out the market gap:

• 48 of 59 benchmark classifications are under market.
• Pay trails market by about 12% on average by classification and about 15% by employee.
• Turnover is 10% in police and 14% in some manager classes, compared with about 8% typically.

The other side: Mayor Young doubted the health costs are truly one-time.

"Those costs are gonna be with us forever," he said.

Imboden responded: "Employees did not have a reduction in what they are paying for health."

Young agreed with the commenter on process: "This certainly should have been on business." Councilmember Largaespada disagreed on that point. "I don't think we have a transparency issue here," he said, though he urged staff to put the market charts in future staff reports.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council approved the MOUs (For: 5, Against: 0). Employees get one-time payments instead of raises. The city avoids long-term pension growth but carries recruitment and retention risk.

What's next: Wage gaps and turnover set up the next bargaining round.

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Council Overrides Staff on Roof Oversight

Why it matters: The council rarely rejects a staff vendor pick. This time a majority called the construction management cost excessive for a roughly $195,000 re-roof, gutter and paint project.

Where things stand: Staff recommended Unico for item 14H, which was pulled from consent. Councilmember Scott asked whether netting would be added to the scope. "I just want to be assured of the netting," he said.

"I'm not persuaded that this project requires 570 hours and a $90,000 construction management budget," said Councilmember Largaespada, who backed the lower-cost Concord proposal.

Mayor Young called it surprising that the item returned unchanged. He objected to the cost "for what is essentially re-roof, gutters, and a paint job." He moved to award the contract to Concord, and Largaespada seconded.

The other side: Councilmember Kari Birdseye noted that Concord was not staff's preferred vendor.

"If this job isn't done right, it's on the shoulders of the members that voted this way," said Councilmember Birdseye.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The motion passed (For: 3, Young, Largaespada and Vice Mayor Trevor Macenski; Against: 2, Birdseye and Scott). The city expects to spend less on oversight. The majority now owns the outcome if the project goes poorly.

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Fishing Ban Heads for Marina Float

Where things stand: City Attorney Stock said Chapter 12.41 already bars fishing from the 9th Street boat launch float. The amendment extends that rule to the Benicia Marina at the request of the marina and residents.

A 25-year slip holder said fishing near moored boats had harmed him. He noted that no marina permits it. "Not one in any country I've been to, and I've been all over the world," he said.

The Benicia Marina harbormaster called the float "a liability issue, a safety issue," and said the rule "just needs to match the other laws in the city." He pointed anglers to alternatives such as Cromwell Park.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmember Birdseye moved the first reading, which passed (For: 5, Against: 0). Boat owners gain protection, and anglers lose access to the float.

What's next: The ordinance returns for a second reading before it takes effect.

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• Consent calendar approved 5-0, including a DC Electric amendment, police budget amendments, an investment report, consulting and development review agreements, and disposition of city-owned housing sites. Items 14H and 14I were pulled for separate votes.
• Air District grants: Mayor Young reported a $30M Catalyst Grant plus a recommended $5M opportunity grant. "So in total, $35 million should be coming our way from the Air District grant, plus another $10 million for the school district," he said.
• Hispanic Heritage Month: The council proclaimed Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month. Representatives of Chico's Taqueria accepted on behalf of Latino small businesses.
• Air quality summit: A Sustainable Solano program manager promoted a countywide summit Saturday, Oct. 17, in Suisun City. It includes a California Air Resources Board presentation, Spanish translation and $50 checks for the first 50 eligible participants.

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Looking ahead: Air District grant contracts are expected this fall. Councilmember Birdseye said she hopes the Air District board approves the $5M opportunity grant for heat pumps and gas water heater replacements. "It's going to help the neighborhoods that are closest to the refinery," she said.