Haber said the city’s Capital Improvement Program has a budget of $56.2 million for the Fiscal Year 2021-22, which includes more than $23 million for a total of 21 projects, including modernizing roads, improving traffic and repairs.
Staff identified 50% for wastewater and water projects, 23% for transportation, 12% for civic facilities, 9% for parks and 6% for drainage.
“The directed staff to undertake a revenue study to identify revenue enhancements,” Haber said of the council’s action last year before adopting the budget.
Resident Vicky Syage railed against the proposed tax during the council’s April 5 meeting and questioned the city’s hiring of more than 50 new employees, 30 of which are in management positions, over the past three years.
As for cannabis, Haber said city staff has yet to dig into those details of what any citywide program would look like.
After Prop 64 passed, the City Council unanimously voted against legalization, which included retail, testing, distribution and manufacturing facilities.
Carlsbad would be the fourth city in North County to legalize cannabis after Vista, Oceanside and Encinitas.