Nearly a decade after the launch of the Stockton Economic Stimulus Program (SESP), city officials are grappling with its long-term impact and debating how and whether to extend it further.
The Stockton City Council received a long-anticipated update on the program on Aug. 12, which has waived more than $94 million in public facility fees (PFFs) since its inception in 2015.
Initially created to jump-start development and employment after the Great Recession, the program is now under scrutiny as the city faces mounting budget challenges and growing concern about infrastructure needs…