Municipal Financing and Budgetary Matters
As a boutique municipal law firm, Ross & Schwarz assists California Cities, Special Districts, and Joint Powers Authorities in addressing complex revenue and financing issues, including Proposition 218 compliance. Public agencies often hesitate to pursue new taxes due to legal and political constraints. We help navigate these challenges by crafting revenue strategies tailored to each agency’s unique governance structure. Whether advising on voter-approved tax measures or distinguishing between fees for services versus 218-governed taxes, our attorneys bring expertise to the nuanced legal distinctions that impact budgetary planning and fiscal sustainability.
Ross & Schwarz provides clear, actionable guidance on how local agencies can responsibly structure revenue mechanisms—ensuring compliance while preserving flexibility to meet community needs.
Meeting The Demand For Municipal Services With Development Fees
When traditional revenue sources are limited, our firm helps agencies evaluate alternative financing mechanisms. Our focused municipal practice allows us to help agencies design and defend development and mitigation fee programs that meet community needs and comply with statutory requirements. Development and mitigation fees help offset the costs associated with providing infrastructure and services to new developments in your community. One-time payments such as these address the demand for roads, water, sewer, and parks/recreation. Municipal agencies must plan for residential and business development that increases demand on infrastructure and services. Mitigation fees are often one-time payments that help local governments provide these essential services. Our experienced attorneys review CEQA documents and draft comment letters that effectively advocate for your agency’s position on proposed developments, ensuring it is clearly represented and preserved throughout the planning process.
What Are Validation Actions, And How Can They Help Your Public Agency?
Taxes, fees, and financing mechanisms are often challenged in court. Validation actions provide public agencies with an added benefit of prohibiting future challenges regarding the legitimacy of the revenue mechanism at issue in the validation proceeding. These proceedings give agencies long-term certainty and prevent repetitive litigation over approved revenue mechanisms. Contract agreements and bond issuances are additional forms of revenue mechanisms that can be validated with the assistance of the experienced legal team at Ross & Schwarz.
Our attorneys assist public agencies in securing judicial validation of these measures through formal validation actions. Ross & Schwarz has successfully obtained court opinions confirming the validity of agency taxes, fees, and bond issuances, protecting them from future challenge.
Importance of Municipal Budgets
Municipal budgets are not just black and white numbers on a page — they reflect the priorities and values of the communities they serve. The better crafted your budget, the better equipped it will be to deliver essential public services such as infrastructure, public safety, and recreational programs. Ross & Schwarz helps cities, special districts, and joint powers authorities develop budgets and financing frameworks that align with legal obligations, fiscal responsibility, and community objectives.
Allow Ross & Schwarz To Serve You
Schedule a consultation with our team of legal professionals today. With decades of combined experience advising cities and special districts, Ross & Schwarz provides the focused counsel public agencies rely on for fiscal stability and compliance.
