HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2311-2207CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
15.Sales Tax Digest Summary Calendar 2023 Q2 (April 2023 – June 2023)
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORT
Lead Department: Administrative Services
Meeting Date: January 16, 2024
Report #:2311-2207
TITLE
Sales Tax Digest Summary Calendar 2023 Q2 (April 2023 – June 2023)
DISCUSSION
This report transmits information regarding the City of Palo Alto’s sales tax receipts for the
second (calendar) quarter (April to June) of 2023. These figures have been factored into the FY
2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the FY 2025 Long Range Financial report
released in November and December 2023 respectively.
There are two components to the report in Attachment A that provides further and more
detailed levels of information:
a. City of Palo Alto Sales Tax Digest Summary 2023 Q2
b. California Legislative Update for Local Taxes
The City’s sales tax cash receipts of $9.4 million for the second quarter (April to June 2023) is
$1.8 million higher than the same quarter of the prior year (see Attachment A, Historical
Analysis by Calendar Quarter). When adjusted for non-period related payments, the overall
economic quarter over quarter sales tax activity (Q2 2022 to Q2 2023) in Palo Alto increased by
4.2% (Attachment A, p. 8). The segments showing increases were business to business, food
produces, and general retail, while there was a decrease in transportation (see Attachment A,
p. 10, City of Palo Alto Geo Areas & Citywide Chart Data: Change from 2022Q2 to 2023Q2).
For the year ending in the second quarter of 2023, cash receipts (including county pools) for the
City increased by 23.3% from the prior year. In comparison, both statewide and Northern
California decreased by 1.0%. Overall, the decline in California sales tax receipts for the quarter
was due to a number of factors, most notably, lower inflation, and higher interest rates which
made financing larger purchases more expensive. These factors contributed to an overall
decrease in consumer spending. After adjustments for non-period related payments, the overall
economic sales tax activity in Palo Alto for the year increased by 5.5% while it increased 1.5%
statewide and increased 1.0% in the San Francisco Bay Area.
ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
City of Palo Alto
Sales Tax Digest Summary
Collections through August 2023
Sales April through June 2023 (2023Q2)
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 1
California Overview
For the year ending in the second quarter of 2023, cash receipts increased 2.4% statewide, 3.9% in S.F.
Bay Area. However, when adjusted for non-period related payments, the overall economic sales tax
activity for the year ending in second quarter of 2023 increased by 1.5% statewide and increased by
1.0% in S.F. Bay Area.
City of Palo Alto
For the year ending in the second quarter of 2023, sales tax cash receipts for the city increased by 13.5%
from the prior year. However, when adjusted for non-period related payments, the overall economic sales
tax activity in Palo Alto for the year ending in second quarter of 2023 increased by 5.5%.
Sales tax cash receipts decreased by 1.0% in California from Q2 2022 to Q2 2023, while the citywide sales
tax cash receipts increased by 23.3% over the same period. Overall, the decline in sales tax cash receipts
in California in Q2 2023 was due to a combination of factors, including bad weather, lower inflation, and
higher interest rates. Unusual amounts of rain and bad weather affected most of the state. This led to an
overall decrease in consumer spending. Inflation declined by 1.6% from an average of 8.0% in Q1 2022 to
6.4% in Q1 2023. Interest rates increases made financing larger purchases, such as new autos, more
expensive. According to Experian, the average interest rate for an auto loan in California for the year
ended 2023Q1 was 5.41%, up from 4.73% in the year ended 2022Q1. This represents a 14.2% increase in
the average interest rate.
The Transportation Category in Palo Alto saw the largest decline in taxable sales on an economic basis
over the past year, falling by 14.1%. This was driven by a 18.6% year-over-year decline in taxable sales of
new autos, which make up 76.4% of the category. The average price of a new car in California was $48,451
in 2023Q2, up from $48,257 in 2022Q2, a 0.4% increase. The average price of a Tesla in California declined
by $13,290 in the year ended 2023Q2, from $68,233 in 2022Q2 to $54,943 in 2023Q2, a 19.5% decline.
The decrease in the Transportation category for the Palo Alto can be attributed to CDTFA’s determination
that Tesla had not been reporting the local tax correctly based on Point-of-Sale criteria for auto
dealerships.
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 2
% of Total / % Change Palo Alto California
Statewide S.F. Bay Area Sacramento
Valley Central Valley South Coast Inland Empire North Coast
General Retail 27.1 / 2.8 28.0 / 1.3 23.5 / -2.1 28.5 / 3.0 36.6 / -1.0 26.7 / 2.1 32.8 / 4.5 26.8 / -5.0
Food Products 17.7 / 15.5 20.8 / 4.7 22.8 / 8.6 16.6 / 6.3 14.7 / 2.8 22.6 / 4.0 17.6 / 3.0 17.9 / -2.7
Transportation 17.5 / -14.1 24.2 / 0.6 20.0 / -0.5 26.8 / -2.2 22.8 / -1.7 25.0 / 0.9 25.9 / 6.1 29.5 / -7.5
Business to Business 34.5 / 19.4 16.2 / 1.3 21.9 / -0.4 14.5 / 5.7 15.1 / 1.1 15.9 / 0.5 11.3 / 10.5 10.2 / -12.5
Misc/Other 3.6 / -14.3 10.8 / -1.1 11.9 / -1.0 13.6 / -4.3 10.9 / -3.6 9.8 / 0.3 12.4 / -2.0 15.7 / -2.4
Total 100.0 / 5.5 100.0 / 1.5 100.0 / 1.0 100.0 / 1.4 100.0 / -0.6 100.0 / 1.8 100.0 / 4.4 100.0 / -5.8
Palo Alto California
Statewide S.F. Bay Area Sacramento
Valley Central Valley South Coast Inland Empire North Coast
Largest Segment Leasing Restaurants Restaurants Miscellaneous
Retail
Miscellaneous
Retail Restaurants Miscellaneous
Retail Service Stations
% of Total / % Change 22.1 / 16.3 14.9 / 7.6 16.8 / 12.6 11.3 / 10.1 14.1 / 5.4 16.6 / 6.7 15.9 / 7.9 11.3 / -5.3
2nd Largest Segment Restaurants Auto Sales -
New
Auto Sales -
New Restaurants Department
Stores
Auto Sales -
New
Auto Sales -
New Restaurants
% of Total / % Change 15.8 / 16.7 11.6 / 3.3 9.7 / 2.2 11.3 / 7.4 11.0 / -0.9 12.9 / 4.0 11.2 / 6.7 11.3 / -2.7
3rd Largest Segment Auto Sales -
New
Miscellaneous
Retail
Department
Stores
Auto Sales -
New Restaurants Miscellaneous
Retail Restaurants Service Stations
% of Total / % Change 13.4 / -18.6 9.5 / 7.9 7.6 / 0.3 11.3 / 1.5 9.8 / 4.1 8.2 / 11.6 11.1 / 7.4 11.0 / -9.1
ECONOMIC CATEGORY ANALYSIS FOR YEAR ENDED 2nd Quarter 2023
ECONOMIC SEGMENT ANALYSIS FOR YEAR ENDED 2nd Quarter 2023
Regional Overview
The first chart on page two shows adjusted economic benchmark year amounts, which means that it
shows the year ended second quarter of 2023 compared to the year ended second quarter of 2022
(benchmark years are rolling annual comparisons through the current quarter). The decrease is different
between the state and Palo Alto because the sales tax from businesses in Palo Alto were more impacted
than those statewide.
Regional Overview Chart (Economic)
BENCHMARK YEAR 2023Q2 COMPARED TO BENCHMARK YEAR 2022Q2
City of Palo Alto
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$-
$5,000,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$20,000,000
$25,000,000
$30,000,000
$35,000,000
Quarterly Benchmark Year
Leasing
22.1%
Restaurants
15.8%
Auto Sales -New
13.4%
Office Equipment
7.4%Apparel Stores
6.7%
All Other
34.7%
Net Pools & Adjustments
24.9%
Gross Historical Sales Tax Cash Receipts by Benchmark Year and Quarter (Before Adjustments)
Net Cash Receipts for Benchmark Year second Quarter 2023: $35,791,903
*Benchmark year (BMY) is the sum of the current and 3 previous quarters (2023Q2 BMY is sum of 2023 Q2, 2023 Q1, 2022 Q4, 2022 Q3)
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 2
Anderson Honda Macy's Department Store Shreve & Co.
Apple Stores Magnussen's Toyota of Palo Alto Stanford Health Care
Arco AM/PM Mini Marts Neiman Marcus Tesla
Audi Palo Alto Nordstrom Department Store Tesla Lease Trust
Bloomingdale's Richemont Tiffany & Company
Hengehold Trucks Rivian Automotive Union 76 Service Stations
Hermes Sephora Varian Medical Systems
HP Enterprise Services Shell Service Stations Volvo Cars Palo Alto
Louis Vuitton
TOP 25 SALES/USE TAX CONTRIBUTORS
The following list identifies Palo Alto’s Top 25 Sales/Use Tax contributors. The list is in alphabetical order
and represents the year ended second quarter of 2023. The Top 25 Sales/Use Tax contributors generate
60.8% of Palo Alto’s total sales and use tax revenue.
City of Palo Alto
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$-
$500,000
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
$3,500,000
$4,000,000
$4,500,000
$5,000,000
Benchmark Year 2023Q2 Benchmark Year 2022Q2
Sales Tax from Largest Non-Confidential Sales Tax Segments (Economic)
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 5
Economic Category % 2023Q2 2023Q1 2022Q4 2022Q3 2022Q2 2022Q1 2021Q4 2021Q3 2021Q2 2021Q1 2020Q4
Business To Business 25.8%2,439,519 2,350,567 2,571,178 2,194,817 2,095,020 2,031,199 2,136,501 1,689,561 1,559,814 1,700,725 1,937,072
Miscellaneous/Other 16.4%1,546,096 1,302,322 1,517,005 1,597,816 1,724,861 1,701,538 1,687,189 1,812,731 1,743,358 1,558,859 1,777,635
General Retail 21.4%2,017,885 1,640,927 2,305,038 1,802,777 1,920,316 1,639,417 2,282,253 1,687,461 1,740,666 1,153,240 1,608,823
Food Products 14.3%1,349,926 1,195,458 1,260,287 1,230,824 1,227,240 1,018,577 1,083,309 999,729 912,939 635,705 674,469
Subtotal Economic (Local Business)77.9%7,353,426 6,489,274 7,653,508 6,826,234 6,967,438 6,390,731 7,189,252 6,189,482 5,956,778 5,048,529 5,997,999
Net Pools & Adjustments 22.1%2,084,763 1,586,938 1,935,580 1,862,181 686,044 1,721,924 1,806,328 584,508 1,513,663 1,741,273 1,343,184
Total Cash Receipts 100.0%9,438,189 8,076,212 9,589,088 8,688,414 7,653,481 8,112,655 8,995,580 6,773,990 7,470,441 6,789,802 7,341,183
Economic Segment % 2023Q2 2023Q1 2022Q4 2022Q3 2022Q2 2022Q1 2021Q4 2021Q3 2021Q2 2021Q1 2020Q4
Miscellaneous/Other 44.5%4,197,978 3,818,384 4,490,992 4,087,158 4,008,008 3,949,786 3,969,954 3,752,178 3,570,610 3,406,995 3,982,753
Restaurants 12.9%1,214,502 1,073,621 1,114,637 1,102,248 1,093,944 902,707 947,771 884,911 799,544 540,244 557,662
Miscellaneous Retail 5.4%512,077 448,322 545,797 381,616 479,710 432,956 679,381 412,016 514,516 338,032 489,417
Apparel Stores 5.4%509,894 423,470 538,573 435,730 495,508 392,724 540,782 406,274 398,447 264,318 365,627
Department Stores 5.2%492,374 356,626 533,032 423,601 454,349 367,144 525,295 388,703 384,763 237,522 315,453
Service Stations 2.4%222,029 192,723 215,640 233,387 250,715 191,755 190,610 181,460 157,268 116,258 111,242
Food Markets 1.2%111,465 101,978 116,810 99,811 104,253 91,634 108,203 90,773 89,773 74,397 89,739
Business Services 1.0%93,106 74,150 98,027 62,683 80,950 62,025 227,256 73,169 41,858 70,763 86,107
Subtotal Economic (Local Business)77.9%7,353,426 6,489,274 7,653,508 6,826,234 6,967,438 6,390,731 7,189,252 6,189,482 5,956,778 5,048,529 5,997,999
Net Pools & Adjustments 22.1%2,084,763 1,586,938 1,935,580 1,862,181 686,044 1,721,924 1,806,328 584,508 1,513,663 1,741,273 1,343,184
Total Cash Receipts 100.0%9,438,189 8,076,212 9,589,088 8,688,414 7,653,481 8,112,655 8,995,580 6,773,990 7,470,441 6,789,802 7,341,183
Historical Analysis by Calendar Quarter
The chart above shows the categories and segments in quarterly economic basis amounts. The total amount is the net cash receipts, and it was obtained by
adding up the categories/segments with the “Net Pools & Adjustments” amount.
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 7
Economic Category % 2023Q2 2022Q2 2021Q2 2020Q2 2019Q2 2018Q2 2017Q2 2016Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2
Business To Business 27.6%9,893,339 8,286,992 7,485,938 8,193,739 7,496,054 6,707,627 5,418,731 5,120,759 4,034,581 4,713,800
Miscellaneous/Other 16.7%5,964,981 6,940,297 5,980,661 5,389,899 7,990,749 6,336,507 6,023,496 5,828,635 5,526,056 5,279,967
General Retail 21.7%7,751,380 7,538,308 6,113,299 7,106,633 8,543,599 8,381,689 8,508,010 8,180,392 8,079,780 8,106,060
Food Products 14.1%5,055,390 4,376,428 2,835,515 3,891,336 4,885,701 4,776,697 4,596,100 4,609,460 4,323,122 4,035,894
Subtotal Economic (Local Business)80.1%28,665,089 27,142,025 22,415,414 24,581,607 28,916,104 26,202,519 24,546,336 23,739,246 21,963,538 22,135,721
Net Pools & Adjustments 19.9%7,126,814 4,393,682 5,709,337 5,310,618 7,173,726 3,517,503 4,313,668 4,407,390 4,034,611 3,441,331
Total 100.0%35,791,903 31,535,707 28,124,751 29,892,225 36,089,829 29,720,022 24,546,336 28,146,636 25,998,149 25,577,052
Economic Segment % 2023Q2 2022Q2 2021Q2 2020Q2 2019Q2 2018Q2 2017Q2 2016Q2 2015Q2 2014Q2
Miscellaneous/Other 47.2%16,902,798 16,028,739 14,884,738 15,705,174 17,022,880 14,508,248 12,802,455 12,024,028 10,653,521 11,130,513
Restaurants 12.6%4,523,610 3,877,041 2,410,193 3,388,800 4,304,101 4,166,128 3,993,417 4,010,073 3,761,655 3,516,294
Miscellaneous Retail 5.2%1,848,192 2,012,947 1,590,233 1,273,539 1,639,505 1,676,488 2,137,729 1,885,952 1,506,384 1,497,498
Apparel Stores 5.3%1,912,134 1,834,771 1,282,785 1,400,225 2,004,839 1,835,953 1,692,171 1,627,846 1,655,700 1,660,948
Department Stores 5.1%1,809,245 1,735,491 1,124,004 1,260,329 1,885,556 2,068,624 2,065,427 2,250,100 2,397,566 2,403,841
Service Stations 2.4%870,389 814,667 488,904 572,745 698,559 651,979 587,986 581,619 699,331 776,593
Business Services 1.0%368,276 443,531 302,590 577,822 907,685 796,402 762,154 850,451 799,913 700,153
Food Markets 1.2%430,445 394,839 331,966 402,973 452,977 498,697 504,997 509,177 489,468 449,881
Subtotal Economic (Local Business)80.1%28,665,089 27,142,025 22,415,414 24,581,607 28,916,104 26,202,519 24,546,336 23,739,246 21,963,538 22,135,721
Net Pools & Adjustments 19.9%7,126,814 4,393,682 5,709,337 5,310,618 7,173,726 3,517,503 4,313,668 4,407,390 4,034,611 3,441,331
Total 100.0%35,791,903 31,535,707 28,124,751 29,892,225 36,089,829 29,720,022 24,546,336 28,146,636 25,998,149 25,577,052
Historical Analysis by Calendar BMY from 2014Q2 to 2023Q2
The chart above shows the categories and segments in benchmark year economic basis amounts. The total amount is the net cash receipts, and it was obtained
by adding up the categories/segments with the “Net Pools & Adjustments” amount. Benchmark year (BMY) is the sum of the current and 3 previous quarters
(2023Q2 BMY is sum of 2023 Q2, 2023 Q1, 2022 Q4, 2022 Q3).
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 8
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Campbell -5.2%4.5%-5.8%67.2%1.5%3,370,786 2,964,148 13.7%I.T. Infrastructure Light Industry Electronic Equipment Service Stations
Cupertino -3.6%8.1%-4.0%-30.9%-10.6%5,974,054 7,974,786 -25.1%Restaurants Bldg.Matls-Retail Office Equipment I.T. Infrastructure
Gilroy -4.1%5.3%-7.7%-9.7%-5.3%4,340,101 4,553,438 -4.7%Auto Sales - New Restaurants Misc. Vehicle Sales Service Stations
Los Altos -15.2%2.3%-25.4%-17.2%5.2%645,408 703,169 -8.2%Food Markets Health & Government Service Stations Miscellaneous Retail
Los Gatos 7.4%-1.0%-10.7%25.6%-29.9%1,538,907 1,585,258 -2.9%Biotechnology Apparel Stores Miscellaneous Other Service Stations
Milpitas 6.4%6.7%-12.5%0.6%-8.9%5,955,173 5,980,175 -0.4%Office Equipment Miscellaneous Retail Electronic Equipment Auto Sales - New
Morgan Hill 6.2%4.7%1.2%-26.0%3.1%2,711,516 2,742,041 -1.1%Auto Sales - New Bldg.Matls-Whsle Light Industry Service Stations
Mountain View -4.5%13.2%-14.7%-8.6%-8.7%4,800,562 4,874,063 -1.5%Restaurants Light Industry Auto Sales - New Energy Sales
Palo Alto 4.9%8.5%-6.7%14.0%-33.5%7,415,373 7,118,709 4.2%Leasing Restaurants Health & Government Auto Sales - New
San Jose -7.3%5.0%-8.9%21.0%-8.2%49,529,258 49,235,373 0.6%Office Equipment Green Energy Service Stations Bldg.Matls-Whsle
Santa Clara -8.6%12.2%-2.5%14.1%21.0%12,710,915 11,748,360 8.2%Office Equipment Bldg.Matls-Whsle I.T. Infrastructure Heavy Industry
County of Santa Clara 1.3%3.6%49.9%15.8%13.5%1,398,881 1,256,453 11.3%Misc. Vehicle Sales Leasing Business Services Auto Parts/Repair
Saratoga 0.5%-0.1%-29.3%26.0%-37.1%262,293 280,920 -6.6%Light Industry Furniture/Appliance Service Stations Miscellaneous Other
Sunnyvale -6.6%10.5%30.5%-12.0%-12.3%7,339,420 7,171,301 2.3%Auto Sales - New Light Industry Office Equipment Electronic Equipment
Quarterly Analysis by Sales Tax Category: Change from 2022Q2 to 2023Q2 (Economic)
Unlike the chart on page one which showed a ‘benchmark year’ through second quarter of 2023, the chart above shows a comparison of one quarter only –
second quarter of 2023 to second quarter of 2022. This chart is for local ‘brick and mortar’ businesses and it excludes county pools and adjustments.
City of Palo Alto
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California Avenue % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS 21.2%98,752 81,447 60.7%51.6%
GENERAL RETAIL -27.6%20,523 28,346 12.6%18.0%
ALL OTHER -9.8%43,314 48,003 26.6%30.4%
TOTAL 3.0%162,589 157,797 100.0%100.0%
El Camino Real and Midtown % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS -0.2%161,383 161,689 42.6%26.6%
GENERAL RETAIL 1.2%39,467 39,015 10.4%6.4%
ALL OTHER -56.1%178,382 406,746 47.0%67.0%
TOTAL -37.6%379,232 607,450 100.0%100.0%
Greater Downtown % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS 10.8%538,341 485,837 61.4%60.0%
GENERAL RETAIL 2.0%275,468 270,075 31.4%33.3%
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS 19.4%42,631 35,703 4.9%4.4%
MISCELLANEOUS 24.9%9,104 7,288 1.0%0.9%
CONSTRUCTION 3.2%8,503 8,236 1.0%1.0%
TRANSPORTATION 9.4%3,276 2,994 0.4%0.4%
TOTAL 8.3%877,324 810,133 100.0%100.0%
Stanford Shopping Center % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL 8.2%1,457,795 1,346,744 76.9%78.7%
FOOD PRODUCTS 3.7%167,448 161,418 8.8%9.4%
ALL OTHER 32.4%270,100 203,974 14.3%11.9%
TOTAL 10.7%1,895,343 1,712,136 100.0%100.0%
City of Palo Alto Geo Areas & Citywide Chart Data: Change from 2022Q2 to 2023Q2 (Economic)
City of Palo Alto
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Town And Country Shopping Center % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS 4.9%118,145 112,593 61.5%62.9%
GENERAL RETAIL 13.5%70,254 61,894 36.5%34.6%
ALL OTHER -12.5%3,857 4,408 2.0%2.5%
TOTAL 7.5%192,256 178,895 100.0%100.0%
All Other Geos combined with Balance of Jurisdiction % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS 15.4%2,328,118 2,017,258 34.0%31.4%
GENERAL RETAIL 6.4%1,952,382 1,834,998 28.5%28.5%
TRANSPORTATION -6.7%1,314,080 1,408,859 19.2%21.9%
FOOD PRODUCTS 9.1%1,167,248 1,069,414 17.0%16.6%
MISCELLANEOUS -13.4%57,767 66,697 0.8%1.0%
CONSTRUCTION -0.6%32,731 32,922 0.5%0.5%
TOTAL 6.6%6,852,325 6,430,147 100.0%100.0%
All Geo Area Totals Comparison 23Q2 & 22Q2 % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
Balance of Jurisdiction 12.9%3,345,582 2,963,737 48.8%46.1%
Stanford Shopping Center 10.7%1,895,343 1,712,136 27.7%26.6%
Greater Downtown 8.3%877,324 810,133 12.8%12.6%
El Camino Real and Midtown -37.6%379,232 607,450 5.5%9.4%
Town And Country Shopping Center 7.5%192,256 178,895 2.8%2.8%
California Avenue 3.0%162,589 157,797 2.4%2.5%
TOTAL 6.6%6,852,325 6,430,147 100.0%100.0%
Palo Alto citywide QE 23Q2 & 22Q2 % CHANGE QoQ 2023Q2 QE 2022Q2 QE 23Q2 % OF TOTAL 22Q2 % OF TOTAL
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS 14.0%2,497,077 2,189,789 33.7%30.8%
GENERAL RETAIL 4.9%2,017,885 1,922,833 27.2%27.0%
FOOD PRODUCTS 8.5%1,349,926 1,243,678 18.2%17.5%
TRANSPORTATION -6.7%1,318,080 1,412,974 17.8%19.8%
MISCELLANEOUS -38.7%188,332 307,262 2.5%4.3%
CONSTRUCTION 4.5%44,073 42,172 0.6%0.6%
TOTAL 4.2%7,415,373 7,118,709 100.0%100.0%
City of Palo Alto Geo Areas & Citywide Chart Data: Change from 2022Q2 to 2023Q2 (Economic) Cont.
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 11
FOOD PRODUCTS,
21.2% CHANGE, $98,752 ,
60.7% TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL, -27.6%
CHANGE, $20,523 ,
12.6% TOTAL
ALL OTHER,
-9.8% CHANGE, $43,314 ,
26.6% TOTAL
California Avenue 2023Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
FOOD PRODUCTS, $81,447 ,
51.6%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL,
$28,346 , 18.0%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, $48,003 ,
30.4%TOTAL
California Avenue 2022Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
FOOD PRODUCTS,
-0.2%CHANGE, $161,383 ,
42.6%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL, 1.2% CHANGE,
$39,467 , 10.4%TOTAL
ALL OTHER,
-56.1% CHANGE,
$178,382 ,
47.0%TOTAL
El Camino Real and Midtown 2023Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
FOOD PRODUCTS, $161,689 ,
26.6%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL,
$39,015, 6.4%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, $406,746
67.0%TOTAL
El Camino Real and Midtown 2022Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
City of Palo Alto Geo Area Pie Charts
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 12
FOOD PRODUCTS,
10.8%CHANGE, $538,341 ,
61.4%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL,
2.0% CHANGE,
$275,468 ,
31.4%TOTAL
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS,
19.4% CHANGE, $42,631 ,
4.9%TOTAL
MISCELLANEOUS,
24.9% CHANGE, $9,104 ,
1.0%TOTAL
CONSTRUCTION, 3.2% CHANGE,
$8,503 , 1.0%TOTAL TRANSPORTATION,
9.4% CHANGE, $3,276 ,
0.4%TOTAL
Greater Downtown 2023Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
FOOD PRODUCTS,
$485,837 , 60.0%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL,
$270,075 , 33.3%TOTAL
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS,
$35,703 , 4.4%TOTAL
MISCELLANEOUS, $7,288 ,
0.9%TOTAL
CONSTRUCTION,
$8,236 , 1.0%TOTAL TRANSPORTATION, $2,994 ,
0.4%TOTAL
Greater Downtown 2022Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
GENERAL RETAIL
$1,346,744 ,
78.7%TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS, $161,418 ,
9.4%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, $203,974 ,
11.9%TOTAL
Stanford Shopping Center 2022Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
GENERAL RETAIL,
8.2% CHANGE, $1,457,795 ,
76.9%TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS,
3.7% CHANGE,
$167,448 ,
8.8%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, 32.4% CHANGE,
$270,100 , 14.3%TOTAL
Stanford Shopping Center 2023Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
City of Palo Alto Geo Areas Pie Charts
City of Palo Alto
www.avenuinsights.com (800) 800-8181 Page 13
FOOD PRODUCTS,
4.9%CHANGE, $118,145 ,
61.5%TOTALGENERAL RETAIL,
13.5% CHANGE, $70,254 ,
36.5%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, -12.5% CHANGE, $3,857 , 2.0%TOTAL
Town And Country Shopping Center 2023Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
FOOD PRODUCTS,
$112,593 ,
62.9%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL, $61,894 ,
34.6%TOTAL
ALL OTHER, $4,408 , 2.5%TOTAL
Town And Country Shopping Center 2022Q2 SALES TAX AMOUNTS
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS,
15.4%CHANGE,
$2,328,118 ,
34.0%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL,
6.4% CHANGE, $1,952,382,
28.5% TOTAL
TRANSPORTATION,
-6.7% CHANGE,
$1,314,080,
19.2% TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS,
9.1% CHANGE, $1,167,248 ,
17.0%TOTAL
MISCELLANEOUS, -13.4% CHANGE,
$57,767 , 0.8%TOTAL
CONSTRUCTION,
-0.6% CHANGE, $32,731 ,
0.5%TOTAL
All Other Geos combined with Balance of Jurisdiction 2023Q2
SALES TAX AMOUNTS
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS,
$2,017,258 ,
31.4%TOTAL
GENERAL RETAIL, $1,834,998,
28.5% TOTAL
TRANSPORTATION,
$1,408,859
21.9% TOTAL
FOOD PRODUCTS,
$1,069,414 ,
16.6%TOTAL
MISCELLANEOUS,
$66,697 , 1.0%TOTAL
CONSTRUCTION,
$32,922 , 0.5%TOTAL
All Other Geos combined with Balance of Jurisdiction 2022Q2
SALES TAX AMOUNTS
City of Palo Alto Geo Area Pie Charts
California Legislative
Update September 1,
2023
This edition of our policy update provides information on
the incoming Senate pro Tempore, Mike McGuire; ACA
13, which will increase the voter threshold for certain
initiative constitutional amendments; and the Mental
Health Services Act reforms being driven by the
administration.
The legislature is scheduled to adjourn for interim recess
on September 14. Governor Newsom will have until
October 14 to sign or veto legislation. We will send a
legislative update once we know which legislation he will
be considering this year.
Tax returns are due in mid-October, and revenues in the
first month of the 2023-24 fiscal year are about $1 billion
lower than estimated in the Budget Act. Should revenues
look particularly bleak after returns are in, the governor
could call a special session of the legislature to consider
budget solutions prior to January.
We hope that this update is helpful, and we will provide
additional updates in the future regarding legislation and
budget activity in Sacramento. Please reach out to us with
any questions.
Government Relations Contact
Fran.Mancia@avenuinsights.com / 559.288.7296
New Senate pro Tempore
On Monday August 28, Senator Mike McGuire (D-
Geyserville) quietly secured enough votes from his
colleagues to become the new Senate pro Tempore. The
official transition from current Senate pro Tem Toni
Atkins (D-San Diego) will take place next year at a date to
be determined.
McGuire was elected to the Senate in 2014, following
serving on the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and
as mayor of Healdsburg. He currently represents the
counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin,
Mendocino, Sonoma (partial), and Trinity. He plans to
prioritize climate change, wildfires, insurance markets,
reproductive rights, and homelessness.
The new Senate pro Tem will be instrumental in
determining the Senate’s legislative and budget priorities
and will decide on committee chairmanships and
appointments. Senator McGuire is currently the Senate
Majority Leader and will be termed out of office in 2026.
ACA 13 (Ward) Voting Thresholds
Assemblyman Chris Ward (D-San Diego) amended
ACA 13 on August 17, to require an initiative
constitutional amendment to comply with any increased
voter approval threshold that it seeks to impose on future
ballot measures. Under current law, a ballot measure
approved by a simple majority of voters can selectively
change the law so that a future measure would require a
supermajority to pass. Additionally, ACA 13 guarantees in
the state constitution the ability of local governments to
submit advisory questions to voters.
Of particular note, if passed by California voters, ACA 13
would impact The Taxpayer Protection and Government
Accountability Act (initiative) by requiring it to be
approved by two-thirds of the voters in order to take
effect. The initiative, which has qualified for the
November 2024 ballot, is sponsored by the California
Business Roundtable and would limit the ability for state
and local governments to impose taxes, fees, and other
charges, as well as the ability of a local government to
place an advisory measure on the ballot if the measure is
related to the potential use of revenues derived from a
general tax that is appearing on the same ballot.
Should both ACA 13 and the initiative pass, the California
Constitution would include potentially conflicting
provisions governing local advisory measures. In such a
situation, it is unclear which provision would prevail if a
local jurisdiction sought to place an advisory measure on
the ballot related to the use of revenues from a general tax
appearing on the same ballot.
Local government associations including CSAC and the
League of California Cities as well as labor interests have
weighed in supporting ACA 13 which passed the
Assembly Elections Committee on August 23, the
Assembly Appropriations Committee on September 1, and
will be heard on the Assembly floor within the next two
weeks. The California Business Roundtable and Howard
Jarvis Taxpayers Association are opposed. Lawmakers
have received numerous calls on both sides of the issue.
Mental Health Services Act Reform
and Bond
In June, Governor Newsom announced details of his
proposal to modernize the Mental Health Services Act
(MHSA) as well as place a bond on the ballot to provide
funding for behavioral health housing, language was
introduced through AB 531 (Irwin) The Behavioral Health
Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023 and SB 326 (Eggman)
The Behavioral Health Services Act. These measures are
anticipated to be sent to the governor by September 14
when the legislature adjourns for the year.
AB 531 would, upon voter approval at the March 5, 2024,
statewide primary election, allow $4.68 billion in bonds to
be issued for the provision of grants administered by the
Department of Health Care Services for the acquisition of
capital assets for, and the construction and rehabilitation
of, unlocked, voluntary, and community-based treatment
settings and residential care settings, as well as grants
administered by the Department of Housing and
Community Development to acquire capital assets for, and
to construct and rehabilitate housing for, veterans and
others who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of
homelessness and are living with a behavioral health
challenge.
Language in the measure specifies that a housing project
funded, in whole or in part, by the bond shall be a use by
right subject to a streamlined, ministerial review. In
addition, contractors and subcontractors performing work
on the project must receive prevailing wages for any
proposed rehabilitation, construction, or major alterations.
SB 326 would make several major and minor changes to
the MHSA by focusing on providing services to the most
seriously ill and homeless or those at risk of homelessness.
Many current programs that do not align with the new
parameters will have to be reduced or eliminated.
Changes to the MHSA include renaming it the Behavioral
Health Services Act (BHSA) to reflect the allowance of
treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs).
County allocations are proposed to be adjusted as follows:
● 30% for Housing Interventions including rental and
operating subsidies, family housing for children and
youth. 50% of this funding bucket must be for
chronically homeless individuals.
● 35% for Full-Service Partnership (FSP) programs -
assertive community treatment, substance use disorder
treatment, and employment services.
● 35% for behavioral health services and supports,
including early intervention; adult, older adult, and
youth focused services; capital facilities; deposits into
prudent reserves; and outreach and engagement
services. The majority of this funding bucket must be
for early intervention and at least 51% of early
intervention shall be used to serve individuals who are
25 years of age or younger.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), which advises the
legislature on the budget and legislative proposals, has
been critical of SB 326, in large part because the MHSA is
funded through a 1% tax on individuals earning more than
$1 million annually, and is therefore an extremely volatile
revenue source. In 2020, the tax amounted to $2.8 billion
which was paid by 109,000 people, however, about 70% of
the total was concentrated among about 13,000 filers with
taxable income of $5 million and over.
To reduce volatility, the LAO suggests the legislature
consider changing the MHSA tax base by reducing the rate
and expanding the population of people taxed, or shifting
a dedicated portion of the General Fund tax base to fund
the MHSA, such as a portion of the sales and use tax or
personal income tax. These options would increase
stability, but would also reduce long-term growth. Thus
far, the administration does not seem inclined to amend
the bill to adjust the revenue source.
Many cities are supportive of the proposals, while counties
have concerns about having to cut current programs. We
fully anticipate that this proposal will make it to the
governor in September, he will sign it, and it will be placed
on the March 2024 ballot.
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