San Ramon Maps 10-Year Path to Close Budget Gap as Measure N Revenue Slides

San Ramon's City Council got its clearest picture yet of the fiscal math ahead: hold annual spending growth to 2.3% — less than a quarter of recent trends — or face service cuts when the city's signature sales tax expires in a decade. The March 24 budget kickoff also surfaced unresolved equity gaps for seniors in Dougherty Valley, a resident revolt over development pace, and a teen leader's pitch to let youth do more than advise.

• Finance director reveals Measure N revenue has fallen $2.1M below original projections, presenting a 10-year model requiring 2.3% annual expenditure growth to balance by FY36
• Senior Advisory Committee spotlights transportation and park gaps in Dougherty Valley, where the city's subsidized ride-share program doesn't operate
• Homeowner urges council to slow high-density development, citing school overcrowding, public safety staffing, and loss of green space
• Council proclaims Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month as NCAPDA reports four fatal overdoses in San Ramon Valley since 2023 and readies 15 naloxone distribution units
• Teen Council member proposes hybrid advisory-implementation model to fill youth program gaps at zero cost during the deficit
• Master fee schedule adoption delayed to April 14 as resident pushes for lower citizen appeal fees matching neighboring cities

The basics: Measure N, a half-cent sales tax voters approved to fund city services, generates roughly $13.5M annually and expires in 2035. San Ramon's current operating budget runs about $80.9M in revenue against $71.8M in expenditures, but the gap narrows fast if spending continues growing at recent rates.