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Escondido finance director outlines Measure I operating budget, forecasts and planned positions
Summary
City Finance Director Christina Holmes reviewed the Measure I FY26 operating budget: staff presented revenue forecasts from two consultants, a first cash distribution, proposed staffing and capital items funded by Measure I and questions about overtime and reporting cadence were raised.
Christina Holmes, the City of Escondido’s director of finance, presented the Measure I fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a high-level overview of revenue forecasts, planned expenses and positions the city proposes to fund with Measure I sales tax revenue.
Why it matters: Measure I proceeds will fund public safety, development services, parks and infrastructure needs. The committee will review quarterly reports, an independent auditor will assist with the committee’s report to council, and early revenue projections will inform staffing and one-time investments.
Holmes told the committee the budget anticipates “a little over $38,400,000” in revenue and budgeted expenses of $31,300,000. She described how the ballot language anticipated $28,000,000 annually and said the city engaged two consultants to produce preliminary forecasts. HDL projected about $35,000,000 (77% of the city’s base rate) and Avenue Insights projected a higher forecast, a little over $41,000,000 (about 92%). Holmes said staff used an average of consultant forecasts for budgeting and emphasized that because Measure I is a new district tax the assessment and collection differ slightly from the city’s 1 percent tax; staff expects forecasts to improve after the first fully closed quarter of receipts.
Holmes said the new sales tax went into effect April 1 and the city received a first cash distribution from the state in July. The city expects reconciled data for July, August and September only after the first quarter closes in September; consultants will analyze the actual receipts then and staff will adjust projections if necessary.
Holmes described proposed Measure I-funded positions and expenditures included in the council-adopted operating budget: seven sworn police officers funded by Measure I; replacement of 37 police vehicles; additions in development services totaling 12 positions for planning, engineering, building and code; funding to convert part-time park ranger positions to eight full-time positions to patrol parks and downtown; and support for one existing fire station and one existing ambulance service. The fire department line items included three pumpers and two utility trucks; communications was allocated a management analyst position and an online community outreach tool. The budget also lists one-time infrastructure investments such as roof repairs and facility assessments, and funding for the California Center for the Arts building and Reedy Creek Golf Course operations.
Committee members asked whether personnel totals included benefits and retirement contributions and how overtime would be handled if it exceeded Measure I funding. Holmes said the position budgets are “fully burdened,” and she cited approximately $5,300,000 in total personnel costs included in Measure I for those positions. She said there is no overtime budgeted in Measure I; if overtime occurs the city will either identify alternative funding or return to the council to request use of Measure I funds for overtime.
Committee members also asked about Reedy Creek Golf Course and whether Measure I was simply plugging an operating deficit. Holmes said there is a management agreement with Corsco that covers annual operating deficits under its terms and that the agreement will come up for renewal in a few years; Measure I is funding the operation per the existing management agreement.
Members asked about Northcom, which Holmes described as a joint powers dispatch center for multiple north-zone cities; she said Escondido’s first-year membership fee had been waived and Measure I is funding the first full-year payment. Committee members requested more information about the city’s “smart city” work; staff agreed to bring a presentation from the appropriate person to a future meeting.
Holmes said the city will provide quarterly reports after the first quarter close and that the committee will review the independent auditor proposals at a future meeting following an RFP process. The committee discussed how to request specific budget line-item information without violating the Brown Act and staff described the proper channels for submitting questions so answers can be shared at public meetings.
