The past is where you learned the lesson.  The future is where you apply the lesson.  Or, as we learned from Yoda, “The more we learn, the more we discover how much we do not know.”

So let CSMFO News be your source to learn and apply our past lessons to guide your future successes.

As most of you know, my Presidential theme is Together Toward Tomorrow.  As someone who enjoys looking forward towards preventing what might be predictable, I’ve used this theme as a hopeful reminder to everyone about the importance of doing the early research work as well as making time to connect with and work together to take advantage of opportunities.

This applies to my work now navigating through our fiscal resiliency plan strategies as we experience rising pension costs, higher infrastructure demands, public pressure to fund more supportive and preventative social services, and the need to invest in supporting and retaining our amazing workforce.

For me, that has us working on a balanced portfolio of solutions including asking our departments to update our unified fee schedule, reducing and consolidating leases and some operations, taking bold steps with reducing long-term costs, as well as evaluating 2022 ballot measure proposals.

So, thank you to Jared Boigon from TBWB Strategies for his July 3, 2019, CSMFO News article on Keys to a Successful Local Sales Tax Measure.  His reminder about telling our government story is so important and one we generally as an industry don’t focus enough time on, celebrating and effectively communicating our successes.

As I searched through other CSMFO News articles, I came across the 3-part series in 2019, “The (Long, Bumpy) Road to a Successful Tax Measure” by Fran David (City of Berkeley Director of Finance- Retired).  Part I of her series offered reminders in the shift in values and lifestyles of today’s voters.  They don’t have the time in this over saturated communication world to really study the core challenges within their communities, but also have a higher expectation of how government should be doing more to solve today’s systematic issues that were the results of decades of questionable public policy.  Combined with the shift from the “if it bleeds it leads” traditional media to the “if its outrageous and bold its gold” approach of social media, there is way too much easily accessible disinformation to counter our decades old ineffective public notices and “press release” information strategies.

Part II of the “The (Long, Bumpy) Road to a Successful Tax Measure” reminded me that to prepare for an effective and engaging outreach strategy, good data is essential.  And that data is more than your revenue trends or projections on the revenue potential of a ballot measure.  It’s conducting polling and outreach to measure your community’s satisfaction with local government, what they feel are the top challenges in their community, and what programs or services they value most.  It’s also being out in public where your community is.  Talking to business owners, talking to employees as your shop in your community, and making yourself accessible at community meetings.

Part III brings it home with tips on communication managing your ballot measure team, and provides information and links to ensure your measure is accountable and structured and timed to satisfy California’s strict ballot measure legal requirements.

And, when it comes to Fran David’s recommendations on getting good data, start with everyone’s friend and local government revenue guru Michael Coleman.  On December 16, 2020, he published in CSMFO News a summary of the November 2020 election (Local Tax Measures Bounce Back).  And you’ll find an unending amount of data and analysis on his website including specifically on local tax measures within his “California Local Government Finance Almanac” website.

Of course you can find other content from any of the news sources of the other associations CSMFO is affiliated with, including the Cal Cities/League of California Cities, California Special District Association, or California State Association of Counties.

So, if you are evaluating a proposed 2022 ballot measure or large fee increase, be sure and build in time to prepare early so you can work together toward a successful tomorrow.  Or, as Yoda might say, “Do. Or Do Not.  There is no try.”

BONUS RECIPE-  Candied thick-cut spicy bacon

While going back through CSMFO News, I also came across my 2020 Candied Bacon recipe and was inspired to make this several times in the last few weeks.  I hope you’ll enjoy making this easy, fast treat that will absolutely thrill most everyone around you.