Sales Tax Growth Keeps Lafayette Leaders Happy -- But Wary

Even with an unforgiving recession and a lengthy sidewalk restoration project some feared would reduce foot traffic downtown, the City of Lafayette is weatherin the financial storm just fine -- so far.

In his Friday Summary, City Manager Steven Falk reported that sales tax revenues for the city were up 10.4 percent for the reporting period ending June 30, beating budget predictions by about $56,000.

"Every little bit helps," Falk wrote. And while that may not seem like a lot of money to many, city leaders say it is cause for celebration during a time of unprecedented financial uncertainty.

"Only two of the other eighteen Contra Costa cities had higher growth rates," Falk wrote.

While Falk and other civic leaders may be breathing a little more easily given the comfort level a tax surplus affords, he admits that Lafayette's recently proven inability to successfully pass measures to pay for better roads or police services has prompted them to keep a careful eye on their neighbors.

"We will be watching with great interest this November to see if Orinda voters approve its and, likewise, how Moraga voters treat the that has been placed before them," Falk wrote.

Falk said passage of those measures would benefit the residents of Lafayette's neighboring villages, but it remains to be seen if a constituency with a decided predeliction against paying for anything they don't have to right now will be able to muster sufficient support for the measures.