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Waterford council reviews preliminary FY 2025-26 budget and signals possible support for youth football program
Summary
City staff presented a balanced preliminary general fund budget for FY 2025-26 and outlined capital projects and grant-funded work; council members asked staff to meet with the Waterford Sabercats about possible one-time or reimbursement-based assistance and noted the city’s strong reserve position.
Waterford City Council reviewed the preliminary fiscal year 2025-26 budget at its meeting and heard public comment from the Waterford Sabercats seeking support for uniforms and equipment.
Budget presenter Cynthia said the city’s preliminary general fund is balanced. The presentation showed about $4.9 million in general fund revenues, operating expenses of roughly $4.882 million and an anticipated reserve balance of about $3.518 million — roughly a 70% reserve level compared with the city policy target of 50%.
The budget presentation listed major revenue lines including motor vehicle/property in-lieu payments (just over $1 million), utility user tax ($745,000), sales tax ($710,000) and property tax ($632,000). Operating expenditures are led by police services at roughly $2.6 million; administration at about $948,000; streets $347,000; and parks roughly $297,457. General fund capital items included web hosting/website upgrades (~$6,700), improvements to tennis courts and converting courts for pickleball (~$200,000), and a flail mower for parks (~$18,000). Impact fees and transfers from enterprise funds were identified as additional capital funding sources.
Public comment came from Clint Warren representing the Waterford Sabercats football and cheer program, who said the league now requires cheer uniforms to be replaced every two years and that the program faces an immediate equipment need. “We’re looking at about $39,000 that we have to fork out,” Warren said, and added the group needs about $5,000 more for about 15 new helmets.
Council members and staff discussed prior support for youth sports: staff said rental fees for athletic fields had been waived previously (about $4,000 waived for the baseball program) and that the city had provided seed money for basketball in earlier years. Council members expressed general support for assisting the Sabercats and asked that the team meet with the city manager to discuss requirements and a potential reimbursement approach. The council did not adopt a budget at the meeting; staff said the item will return for final adoption on June 5 with any requested adjustments incorporated.
The presentation also reviewed enterprise funds and capital projects. Wastewater reserves improved following a 2024 rate study (including prior increases), allowing transfers to reserves and anticipated capital work including sewer line and manhole replacements, a Vactor truck, and a grinder pump controller. The water enterprise was identified as under-resourced for needed capital work; staff proposed initiating a water rate and fee study (discussed as a separate agenda item). Several grant-funded capital projects were described, including CDBG-funded pedestrian improvements on G Street ($670,000), an ATP pedestrian project on Yosemite (budgeted at $946,000 but recent bids came in near $1.5 million), a CMAC signal project for Pasadena ($550,000), and a Measure L Cape Seal project in the Country Gardens subdivision (about $1 million).
Council members said the city’s reserves provide flexibility to accommodate higher-than-expected bid results and potential limited support to youth programs while maintaining a balanced budget. Staff noted they routinely underspend by a few hundred thousand dollars, and that the council would see final budget adjustments in June.
