Council Tightens Oversight On Tax Spending In This Marin County Town

SAN RAFAEL, CA — The San Rafael City Council passed a change to improve how the city tracks and reports spending from special tax measures at their Tuesday meeting.

The council approved an amendment to the bylaws for the voter-approved tax oversight committee. This new rule means city staff must track exactly where tax dollars go, not just how much is collected.

“Oversight often stops the moment the tax is collected,” said Gregory Andrew, a resident and regular council attendee. “But for a taxpayer, oversight only truly begins when the money is spent.”

Andrew said the new changes will let people see if city leaders deliver on spending promises made in ballot measures.

The amended rules require keeping itemized records by each voter-approved measure. The oversight committee now has clear authority to check if funds end up in the intended projects, not just in the general fund. The council passed the update unanimously as part of their consent agenda, which groups items expected to have broad support.

City staff will begin following the new rules right away. Council members said they hope these changes will make the city government clearer about how it spends tax money.