[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6064301,"mediaKeyId","3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939","parentId",3256281,"title","Seal Beach projects balanced FY25‑26 budget but warns of mid‑term deficits; Measure GG reduces near‑term gap","audioSeconds",2602,"startMs",3156000,"endMs",5758000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939&start=3156&end=5758","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939/thumbnail_3156000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6064301/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-projects-balanced-FY2526-budget-but-warns-of-midterm-deficits-Measure-GG-reduces-nearterm-gap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064301-779b48d5ef3a1c612c0a5db715138682/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004355&Signature=dnqNz1ROwmkrr-0IuLmPKuMgQSQi1q-T6gGVBc9VBHn-VfSwJksDuAsye~I2g4VJkesZLIRfIDdCDImtsOsexzHT8z9k5WtJqloUgMwBdx~pYQ-yzq6MYZuJmw73kDTdXQnS55eFoK7wlVKH~7m8iYW7CbYEq6UTe8DO2wdAuVfuSqwSx0QYqwJ7OJDGH9uA6witKA0-v7HF5kSkoNhAG5c4Wp-lCc~VRy4JtWle5DrkKQRh2JjpxhM1B7vUuFsoXvrFdwlFmXA4HkS8910BVwRHBCnhdRFOhgeUGz1L~p4fVU3QXBGouD5BnDhsGQ-53~yo1-AjnPWSJW0~6TsUSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seal Beach Council, California","date","2025-05-09T14:50:02Z","article","The Seal Beach finance director told council on May 8 that the city is presenting a balanced FY25‑26 budget and a five‑year forecast that still shows structural pressure from rising fixed costs, including pensions and health benefits.

Property tax is the city’s largest and most stable general fund revenue source, the presentation said, accounting for roughly the mid‑30 percent range of general fund revenue and showing average growth in recent years. Finance staff cited a median housing price for Seal Beach of about $1.6 million and said annual property‑tax growth has moderated from the recent high but remains the most stable revenue stream.

Sales tax is the second largest general fund revenue source, budgeted at about $14.6 million for FY25‑26; staff emphasized its volatility. The presentation noted a 4.6% decline in Q3 2024 sales tax compared with the prior year, tied mainly to restaurants and hotels. Finance said HDL projections expect flat‑to‑moderate growth in 2025–26 and stronger growth in 2027–28 if consumer confidence returns.

The forecast highlighted a 15% rise in health plan costs that drove a 22.6% increase in the “other pay and benefits” category year over year; retirement costs are projected to rise by double digits over the five‑year period due to CalPERS discount‑rate changes and the pension actuarial lag. Staff set aside $1.5 million in an economic reserve to manage short‑term shocks, and they said Measure GG (voter‑approved local tax measure implemented in FY25‑26) brings approximately $3 million annually back into city finances—partially restoring a $6 million set of cuts adopted the prior year.

Finance presented a range of contingency and corrective actions if a recession or sharp revenue downturn occurs: freeze vacant positions, pause nonessential spending, defer contracts where feasible, and use the economic reserve. Staff emphasized the city’s 25% contingency reserve target and a recently launched pension pay‑down plan as tools to preserve fiscal stability.

Council and staff discussed potential revenue options under consideration, including billboard agreements, revisiting business license fees, and an updated fee study. Staff and council members also highlighted nonbudget avenues to support Main Street and retail viability, including marketing, parking strategies and encouraging experiential retail.

On other budget items, the council asked and staff confirmed that the proposed FY25‑26 budget includes $120,000 operational support plus $160,000 capital for audio/visual and studio improvements for Seal Beach TV, moving the TV entity’s funding above its historical $70,000 allocation so it can pursue a part‑time manager and upgrades.

No formal council action was taken on additional revenue options at the workshop; staff will return with final budget documents on June 9.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Capital Improvement Program Budget & 5 Year Financial Forecast Workshop - May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Finance director presented a five‑year forecast showing property tax as the largest revenue source, sales tax volatility, rising pension and benefits costs, and a forecasted deficit in year three even after Measure GG revenue.","taxTitle","Seal Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",72161,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064306,"Seal Beach officials say water, sewer systems need rate adjustments to cover $60M+ of near‑term needs",462,1983000,2445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939&start=1983&end=2445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939/thumbnail_1983000.jpg","/articles/6064306/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-officials-say-water-sewer-systems-need-rate-adjustments-to-cover-60M-of-nearterm-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064306-8a7d45fddfb3dd558294d8456c8bda72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004355&Signature=CKkJKC3Vnuog~SjjZYRCbkx70svu61X4m4e11NmYq0maQTk9Hf~WkPS8BkGXeY0S4cUWFsmZBxpYVK0nkNaSDuiFwyxHDChGatfh1gr0awG1tDvQCZnzWtzccBUbSeohOHpY39yH9O4PMmqpzTFxdUtSJaOmoO984ZZlXa2z9DevBlQnHLEX0-VtZNWqDSXtWeTFNrvI0K6rr6esIPMx6t0fSDMDutm~kjTHd3dTRuzhBwMPmcgg5a4LWGRp6KrsvippDE~Dqcs1-o-AcUdJR8TvNC~dP9t~koPjZKmEFqT7wXJOcgemEJysdUAIodLWmQRrU5KLqBrqwLdoUex6vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the council on May 8 that water and sewer infrastructure needs outpace available funds and that a pending rate study and financing plan are the path to address immediate and multi‑year work.

Director Lee and staff presented the water and sewer portion of the public works program and said the Lampson Well treatment system is budgeted using an Orange County Water District (OCWD) producers loan; the treatment scope is roughly $4.5 million and comprises most of a $5.1 million allocation listed for the item. The city also carries a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) program for utility monitoring and a multi‑year water main project tied to coordination with Los Cerritos Wetlands/LCWA restoration efforts.

Staff reported a sewer mainline improvement program in design and noted recent delamination of several manholes; Pump Station 35 on the easterly end (near Sealway Electric / Seal Beach Boulevard) is under construction as a carryover project. The presentation said staff is hesitant to commit to additional sewer construction until the rate adjustments are finalized because reserves may be insufficient to address an emergency repair without the new revenue.

On unfunded needs, staff presented estimates of over $40 million in unfunded water CIPs over five years and about $19 million in unfunded sewer needs over five years; staff said unmet work could risk public health and regulatory fines if deferred further. In addition to capital work, staff noted ongoing operating pressures such as wholesale water cost increases, regulatory compliance expenses, and funding for vehicle replacements; a $300,000 contribution to a vehicle replacement fund was proposed to follow the previously presented fleet plan.

The city emphasized that the water and sewer rate study and related revenue decisions are not yet fully implemented in the budget and that the council will see the results when staff returns with the rate study conclusions. Staff characterized the rate change as necessary so “the system would simply fail” otherwise, and cautioned that delaying action raises the risk of emergency failures and fines.

Public commenters raised household lateral replacement as an urgent local concern: one resident said privately paid lateral repairs to connect homes to the city sewer system can cost $12,000–$14,000 and asked the city to consider whether laterals should be a city responsibility or whether mitigation is possible when the city upgrades mains.

No formal action was taken at the workshop; staff will return with the rate‑study results and the council will consider funding and prioritization choices as part of the final budget.","Staff said a water‑rate funded Lampson Well treatment project is underway but warned of $40 million in unfunded water projects and $19 million of immediate sewer needs highlighted in the budget workshop.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6064311,"Seal Beach public works outlines $46.7 million program, reiterates lifeguard headquarters priority",2341,316000,2657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939&start=316&end=2657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3256281-8ae8e089ff1089ca2632b3cce454c939/thumbnail_316000.jpg","/articles/6064311/Seal-Beach/Orange-County/California/Seal-Beach-public-works-outlines-467-million-program-reiterates-lifeguard-headquarters-priority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064311-d7ef470bd68c498f4bf9d17346d3f430/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004355&Signature=DsDI9zJFbcYVF6ex5dZe7KjCBNRvJRtibY6Grh2SOcwOygS9fsprUE2Dh4ex1eP2hNnlRkpNz6rkMRtFm-QKi3q8srCO4yEneKFJAjt8Pme-OLAVzoNmQIhqXMpIN0wW-XP64~jWHoeiOosLpaPbRnqvyU7Hy~hHk68PjvzLmj90tWlpqg9nMFU3oEdGTCrNCcjEJIUVTz2hNpMe22sJdc9iTJtsxz7pbyn5LlzR7GNaahzCuHA~snl68PELjmfyTYSHr1GPOtrsXQP7nGg2GgJ2UC1asRFkOH3TKkBAS1UjmrrZPKMkXr~2m6ZvSmFrrbZtt5Mu9K5M9pzn0~sIqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seal Beach public works staff told the City Council at the May 8 budget workshop that the department’s proposed operations and capital budget totals $46.7 million and emphasizes coastal infrastructure, deferred maintenance and grant-seeking to stretch limited local dollars.

The presentation flagged three near-term priorities: (1) continuing storm drain CCTV and cleaning efforts, (2) starting alley repaving with seed money, and (3) advancing planning for a new lifeguard headquarters that the department says is beyond its useful life. Director Lee said the capital and outlay portion of the department’s budget accounts for about $27.8 million, or roughly 59% of the public works total, while operation and maintenance is proposed at $13.1 million.

The budget matters because Seal Beach owns and maintains beach, pier, water and sewer systems in addition to typical street and parks infrastructure, making the city’s needs larger and more specialized than many noncoastal municipalities. Staff repeatedly stressed that much of the work depends on external funding and multi‑year efforts and that city dollars cannot cover all deferred projects at once.

Public Works highlighted recent and ongoing work: about 2,600 trees trimmed year‑to‑date; roughly 40,000 linear feet of sewer pipeline cleaned last year (staff noted an apparent reporting difference for this year); more than 14,000 linear feet of striping and signage refreshed; and completion or carryover of several grant‑funded capital projects including a Lampson Avenue bike lane gap closure and Heather Park playground upgrades funded by Prop. 68 per‑capita dollars.

On alley repaving, staff proposed a $150,000 “seed” allocation to start a multiyear effort. Lee explained alleys are not eligible for restricted roadway formula funds (gas tax, SB 1 RMRA, OCTA M2 local fair share) because they are not part of the state/region roadway system, so work must rely on general fund or discretionary funds.

On beach and pier work, the presentation noted a planned structural assessment and a phase‑2 rehabilitation for the concrete pier and a focus on sand replenishment project Stage 14 (Surfside/Sunset area). Lee said the Army Corps of Engineers is the primary implementer for federal beach renourishment projects but that federal funding and dredge availability determine how much sand arrives in any given cycle.

Director Lee referenced an ADA transition plan prepared a few years ago that estimated roughly $40 million in programmatic and infrastructure costs to bring city facilities and sidewalks into compliance; she cautioned that inflation likely has raised that figure since it was produced.

Lifeguard headquarters and the pool: staff reiterated that a lifeguard headquarters needs assessment was completed and that prior council direction and dedicated revitalization funds had seeded early work. Councilmembers and public commenters pressed for quicker action. Resident James (public comment) said laterals and “what’s inside” the system—household sewer connections—deserve attention when the city repairs main lines. Public commenter Catherine Showalter urged the council to restore pool‑dedicated funds if possible, saying the community raised them for a tangible facility.

Staff emphasized a holistic approach: the city is developing a “Greater Pier/Main Street vision plan” to align lifeguard headquarters design with parking, downtown activation, and coastal access rather than designing the building in isolation. Lee said existing revitalization allocations have been spent on high‑priority needs (police and lifeguard emergency vehicles and other items) and that most remaining revitalization funds will be reviewed as part of midyear budget adjustments.

Grants, outside funding and carryovers: the presentation listed pursued and awarded external funds—Safe Streets for All (SS4A), Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), CalRecycle City/County Payment Program (CCPP), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), OCTA environmental cleanup program (ECP), OCWD loans—and noted more than $36 million in targeted funding pursuits. Staff said carryover balances often reflect multiyear projects or awaiting closeouts rather than unstarted work.

Staff cautioned the council that public works faces roughly $200 million in unfunded capital needs across storm drain, facilities, parks, sand replenishment and other categories and that buying power is shrinking with inflation. Director Lee said staff will continue to prioritize projects, leverage cooperative procurement and pursue outside grants where feasible.

A final staff note: Public Works proposed a modest $75,000 programmatic allocation for storm drain CCTV/cleaning in the coming year—“not a whole‑city program,” Lee said, but a start at chipping away at the problem.

Looking ahead, staff said the council will see more detailed project scoping, grant pursuit updates and the Greater Pier/Main Street vision plan as those efforts are fleshed out and as carryovers and grant awards are finalized.","Public Works presented a $46.7 million operations and capital program that prioritizes beach and coastal assets, alley repaving seed money and a phased approach to a lifeguard headquarters while warning of $200 million in unfunded needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Seal Beach projects balanced FY25‑26 budget but warns of mid‑term deficits; Measure GG reduces near‑term gap

Seal Beach officials say water, sewer systems need rate adjustments to cover $60M+ of near‑term needs

Seal Beach public works outlines $46.7 million program, reiterates lifeguard headquarters priority