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Council reviews fiscal year 2025–26 budget development schedule; staff flags revenue and labor pressures
Summary
Finance Director Dan Buffalo presented a budget development calendar and said the city targets tentative adoption in June; staff warned of revenue declines (including a roughly $2 million annual reduction related to retail and cannabis changes), additional agency coordination for water authority budgets, and upcoming labor contract negotiations.
The Ukiah City Council reviewed the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget development schedule Jan. 15, with Finance Director Dan Buffalo presenting timeline milestones and staff warning of revenue and staffing pressures for the coming cycle.
Buffalo described a series of milestones from January through June culminating in tentative adoption of the operating budget at the second regular council meeting in June. He said the schedule includes a mid‑year review, departmental presentations and a citywide budget presentation. Staff will add calendar “save‑the‑date” items to council calendars for key meetings.
Why it matters: Buffalo and the city manager warned the budget cycle will be more complex this year because the city must incorporate additional partner agencies’ budgets (for example, the Water Authority) and carry out labor‑unit contract negotiations for multiple units. City officials also told the council the city has lost approximately $2 million annually in general‑fund revenue compared with several years ago because of changes in retail and cannabis markets; staff said those declines make budget balancing more difficult.
Staff emphasized the city aims to maintain a June 2 tentative adoption timeline so an operating budget is in place by July 1. The city manager cautioned council that staffing limits and concurrent negotiations will mean staff capacity is constrained and urged early communication of council priorities so staff can plan and avoid late surprises.
No formal action was required; the item was informational. Buffalo said staff will circulate calendar items and proceed with the milestones outlined in the schedule.
