Sacramento Valley Chapter Round-up: Innovation in Municipal Revenue Sources

Sacramento Valley Chapter Round-up

By: Alberto Preciado, Finance Manager, City of Citrus Heights

Innovation in Municipal Revenue Sources

Many of our agencies struggle to balance our budgets with ever-rising costs and revenues that don’t keep pace.  With the volatility of sales tax and the slow pace of property tax growth, staying in the black requires fiscal discipline, constant refinement of our revenue forecasts, and some innovative thinking.

With innovation in mind, the Sacramento Valley Chapter met in May at the offices of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District and welcomed Connor Duckworth of HdL Companies to talk about leveraging lesser-known and frequently under-leveraged taxes.  Connor touched on some fan-favorites, like Transient Occupancy Tax and Franchise Tax before exploring others such as a Vacant Parcel or Vacant Building Tax and Utility Users Tax.  Connor also touched on potential tariffs and how they might affect consumer behavior and sales tax.  Following the presentation, attendees participated in a discussion on how their respective agencies are navigating the uncertainty in planning their budgets.

Spotlight on Excellence Award

During the meeting, the Sacramento Valley Chapter unveiled its Spotlight on Excellence Award, recognizing individuals or teams for exceptional contributions that elevate the public finance sector in the Sacramento region.  For its first ever award, the chapter recognized Dennis Kauffman from the City of Roseville for his outstanding leadership.  As noted in his nomination letter, Dennis “created the supportive and collaborative culture within the [Roseville] Finance department that has made a significant impact on the overall performance and morale.”

Unfortunately, Dennis was unable to attend the meeting as he was attending a conference; however, his award was presented via videoconference, and a member of his staff was present to accept the award on his behalf.  Congratulations Dennis!

Looking Ahead

The next meeting of the Sacramento Valley Chapter will take place on July 23, 2025, and will be hosted by the City of Lincoln.  During this meeting, Esthela Pacheco with U.S. Bank will be presenting on the topic of “A Fresh Look at Federal Fiscal Policy and Government Agencies.”

Caption: Dennis Kauffman of the City of Roseville receives the Spotlight on Excellence Award (left, with Lily Ng of BMO).

Caption: Natalya Lakhno accepts the Spotlight on Excellence Award on behalf of Dennis Kauffman from Nou Vang of the Cosumnes Community Service District

Caption: Connor Duckworth from HdL Companies presents to members of the Sacramento Valley Chapter.

Alberto Preciado is the Finance Manager for the City of Citrus Heights. He has eighteen years of experience in municipal finance, working in cities, a special district, and as an auditor. Alberto has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from San Diego State University and a Master of Business Administration from Washington State University. In his free time, Alberto enjoys spending time with his family and goldendoodle, gaming, and tending to his garden.