To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jennifer Solito, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 as approved by the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure O
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Executive Summary:
The Citizen’s Oversight Committee for the Measure O Transactions & Use Tax Ordinance is submitting the annual report for FY 2023-2024 associated with the ten-year measure to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The Oversight Committee affirms that the expenditures meet the intent of the ordinance. The Measure O Annual Report provides the Board and voters with an update on the programmatic spending and accomplishments of Measure O funding achieved during FY 2023-2024 as administered by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services (hereinafter “DHS” or, “the Department”).
Discussion:
In November 2020 Sonoma County voters passed Measure O to provide essential funding for mental health and homeless services with 68.07 percent of the vote. Measure O, a one-quarter cent sales tax, was estimated to generate over $25 million each year for ten years to help protect essential mental health and homelessness services. The Measure O Sales Tax Ordinance identified five categories of services to be funded with the revenue: 1) Behavioral Health Facilities, 2) Emergency Psychiatric and Crisis Services, 3) Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services, 4) Behavioral Health Homeless and Care Coordination, and 5) Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing. The Measure O Expenditure Plan designates a set percentage of funding for each category.
This past fiscal year was the 3rd full year of Measure O funding. Tax revenues for the year again exceeded the initial projections made when voters considered Measure O. Tax receipts totaled $32 million as opposed to the initially projected $24 million (total revenues including interest and unrealized gains was $34.2 million). The surplus has provided capacity to pursue expanded opportunities within the established categories to support our community.
On December 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors established a Citizen’s Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of Measure O. On October 23, 2024, the committee voted to confirm that the Measure O expenditures for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 met the intent of the measure, and the annual report appropriately details remaining fund balances for behavioral health and homeless services in future years. The Annual Report includes a table that details Measure O revenue, expenditures, and fund balance ending June 30, 2024. The English version of the Measure O Annual Report is provided as Attachment 1 and the Spanish version is provided as Attachment 2.
The Annual Report is also a tool for communicating to the public the impact of these Measure O funds in providing essential services to the community. The Measure O Annual Report will be posted on the County’s website and emailed to the list of stakeholders and public who have joined the Measure O mailing list. Hard copies in English and Spanish are available through DHS by emailing requests to MeasureO@sonoma-county.org.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 2: Increase information sharing and transparency and improve County and community engagement
Objective: Objective 3: Increase investment in programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of affordable housing.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On December 10, 2024, the Board received an informational update on the status of Measure O. The update covered fiscal year 2023-2024 expenditures by category; estimated fund balance for fiscal year 2024-2025 and fiscal year 2025-2026; and provided a review of outcomes and numbers served from last fiscal year.
On November 5, 2024, the Board approved the Re-appointments of Edward Sheffield, Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon, Shirlee Zane, Ben Ford, and Kevin McDonnell to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee for a term beginning December 7, 2024, and ending December 7, 2027.
On February 27, 2024, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 as approved by the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure O.
On April 18, 2023, the Board A) Received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 as approved by the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure O; B) Adopted a personnel resolution amending the allocation list for the Department of Health Services to add 4.00 full-time equivalent positions for the Measure O-funded Behavioral Health School Partnership as detailed in the attached resolution, effective April 18, 2023; and C) Adopted a resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the fiscal year 2022-2023 adopted budget, programming $250,502 in Measure O fund balance to support the requested position allocations.
On May 24, 2022, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 as approved by the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure O.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this item.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Measure O Annual Report (English)
Attachment 2 - Measure O Annual Report (Spanish)
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None