8 22-0258 Subject: Informational Report On Economic Analyses Of Potential City Measures And Citizen Initiatives Proposing New Business License Tax Rates On The November 2, 2022 Ballot
From: Council President Bas And Councilmember Fife
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From The Finance Department On Economic Analyses Of The Following Potential City Measures And Citizen Initiatives For The November 2, 2022 Ballot:
1. "Invest In Our Oakland Small Business Tax Fairness Act" Initiative Titled "Proposed Ordinance Repealing And Replacing The Business Tax Ordinance, Imposing Progressive Increases In The Tax Rates For Businesses Based On The Amount Of Their Gross Receipts, And Eliminating The Five-Year Exemption From Taxes For Construction Or Major Renovation Of Property Leased For Commercial Or Industrial Use",
2. "Progressive And Equitable Oakland Business Gross Receipts Tax" Initiative Titled "Proposed Ordinance Repealing And Replacing The Business Tax Ordinance, Allocating The Revenue Increases For Restricted Purposes And Creating An Oakland Business Tax Commission",
3. Recommendations Of The Blue Ribbon Task Force Set Forth In The Report Titled 'City Of Oakland Blue Ribbon Equitable Business Tax Task Force Analyses And Recommendation Report', Dated Thursday, October 21, 2021',
4. The City Tax Measure Considered By The City Council In 2020 As Proposed By Council President Bas And Designated For The 2022 November Ballot, And
5. The City Tax Measure Proposed This Year By Council President Bas And Councilmember Fife
I support CM Bas and Fife's proposal for the Fair Share Tax. Moving from a flat rate structure to a progressive tax rate can have a lasting impact on our community to receive much needed essential city services, and for small businesses to have their basic needs met. Corporations in Oakland generating billions in revenue need to start paying their share and commit to making deeper investment in our city. Small businesses have shouldered the burden of these gaps in our system for far too long and further worsened by decades of racial disparities and inequities. Small businesses are in need of real and robust assistance that are culturally competent and accessible for Black, Indigenous and Small Businesses of color. Especially when it comes to start-up costs, zoning, permitting and anything that creates a barrier to entry - these delays are a bottleneck that make opening/operating a businesses extremely prohibitive and discouraging.
I support CM Bas and Fife's proposal for the Fair Share Tax. Moving from a flat rate structure to a progressive tax rate can have a lasting impact on our community to receive much needed essential city services, and for small businesses to have their basic needs met. Corporations in Oakland generating billions in revenue need to start paying their share and commit to making deeper investment in our city. Small businesses have shouldered the burden of these gaps in our system for far too long and further worsened by decades of racial disparities and inequities. Small businesses are in need of real and robust assistance that are culturally competent and accessible for Black, Indigenous and Small Businesses of color. Especially when it comes to start-up costs, zoning, permitting and anything that creates a barrier to entry - these delays are a bottleneck that make opening/operating a businesses extremely prohibitive and discouraging.