Santee council adopts FY 2025-26 operating budget and ratifies two-year firefighters’ MOU

The Santee City Council on June 25 adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 operating budget and approved a two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Santee Firefighters Association.

A city finance staffer identified as Heather presented budget changes made after the June 11 workshop: the proposed reinstatement of two part-time code-compliance assistants (while removing a proposed full-time position), removal of an administrative secretary position in the city clerk’s office and elimination of a marketing specialist position in economic development. Promotional activity funding for economic development was reduced to zero; community-services costs for carnival rides and certain banners were trimmed, yielding $75,560 in savings.

Heather told the council the city will maintain a balanced budget and forecasted an anticipated reserve balance of $14.5 million and an operating reserve of 22.7% of the general fund. Revenue projections were adjusted — including a $10,000 reduction tied to removing carnival rides — and limited supplemental reserves remain.

Also included in the adopted budget was a successor MOU with the Santee Firefighters Association. The two-year agreement, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, includes 3% cost-of-living adjustments in both years, a 2.5% market adjustment effective July 3, 2025 and a 1.5% adjustment effective Jan. 14, 2027. The uniform allowance was increased to $1,000 annually from $650.

Councilmembers thanked staff for bringing the balanced budget forward and noted savings from reducing paper use on the dais; the final motion to adopt the budget and the MOU carried unanimously.

The adopted budget incorporates the council’s direction from the June workshop and includes follow-up steps to implement staffing changes and the MOU wage adjustments in the payroll system.