Soda Tax Proceeds: Albany City Council To Discuss Spending

ALBANY, CA — The Albany City Council on Monday will hold a study session on the city's sugar sweetened beverage tax, discussing and taking input on priorities for how to allocate proceeds for the coming fiscal year.

The general tax, which puts a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages sold in Albany, was approved by voters in November 2016. It brought in $828,699 between April 2017 and March 2020 and recent proceeds have been used for water bottle filling stations around town, free physical fitness classes in parks, free nutrition and cooking classes, a school crossing guard program, a bicycle safety program for students, and a preschool/kindergarten music and movement program.

The city projects $250,000 in proceeds from April 1 of this year to June 30, 2021, and has $250,000 in unallocated past revenue.

But a staff report cautions that there may be delays in receiving revenue "as requirements for returns and remittance of tax collected have been suspended during the period covered by the shelter in place order to provide businesses with administrative relief."

The study session is scheduled for 6 p.m. before the City Council's 7:30 p.m. regular meeting and is being streamed live on YouTube.

Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. —Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.