Title
a. Receive a report to Board of Supervisor regarding implementation of referral #2017.22 regarding "a process for community engagement and input on recommendations for uses of future incremental cannabis tax revenue".
b. Provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a) Accept report to Board of Supervisor regarding implementation of referral #2017.22 regarding "a process for community engagement and input on recommendations for uses of future incremental cannabis tax revenue".
b) Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY:
The Board referral requests staff to frame a community engagement process for use of any "incremental cannabis tax revenues in exceedance of program costs that can be used for community benefits and reinvestment, including but not limited to, prevention and intervention services, economic development, libraries and non-profit agencies."
The referral further states that "recommendations for use of the tax revenues should account for costs associated with cannabis program implementation and operations, the need for public safety, for proper enforcement and adequate county staffing to meet industry demands, as well as funding core county services ensure continued levels of service to the community concurrent with successful implementation and oversight of the County's cannabis tax ordinance."
DISCUSSION:
The commercial cannabis business tax was approved in November 2016 by the voters of Monterey County as a general tax measure (Measure Y). As a general tax, the tax is expended at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors on any programs or services for general governmental purposes. The Board of Supervisors can determine allocation of the funds through the County's budget process leading to adoption of the County budget in June of each year.
It should be noted that the cost to operate the cannabis program is not yet finalized. Initial departmental resource req...
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