Ripon council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves small increases for two landscape districts

The Ripon City Council adopted the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budget and approved assessment changes tied to landscape and lighting districts after public hearings on July 8.

City staff presented a budget that staff said balances current revenues and expenses but narrows the annual transfer to the Department Capital Fund. “Revenue on average increased about 4% a year and expenses have increased about 7.3% a year,” Kevin, a city staff member, told the council during the public hearing. Council members then voted to adopt the budget by voice vote; the meeting record shows a motion and second and the motion carried.

The budget includes a three-year capital improvement program and a multi-year street and road maintenance plan that divides the city into eight areas for surface treatment and reconstruction. Staff reported Area 1 work completed in 2024–25 included about eight miles of surface treatment at an approximate cost of $2,000,000 and roughly $350,000 for Third Street reconstruction. Area 2 resurfacing, scheduled to begin mid-July, was bid at about $1,300,000 for roughly eight miles of resurfacing; Cobblestone Court reconstruction is estimated at $300,000.…