Maywood City on May 28 received a presentation of the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and the capital improvement program, with City Manager Jennifer Vasquez and Finance Director Remo Hansen telling the City Council the spending plan would be brought back for public hearing and adoption later this summer.

“The proposed budget for 25–26 includes the proposed expenditures as well as our forecast revenues,” City Manager Jennifer Vasquez said as she opened the presentation.

Finance Director Remo Hansen reviewed the general fund forecast and multi‑fund totals. Hansen said staff projects general fund revenues of about $13,400,000 and proposed general fund expenditures of about $13,100,000 for FY 2025–26, producing an estimated surplus of roughly $310,000 and an estimated reserve (beginning fund balance) of about $16.9 million at June 30, 2026.

Hansen gave council a line‑by‑line summary of major revenue categories and drivers. He said sales and use tax remains the largest single revenue source but that the forecast is lower than the FY 2024–25 budget because of economic uncertainty, and that cannabis sales have moderated and some vendors are making installment payments. Hansen also identified transfers in from other funds to support public safety and successor-agency activities.

On the expenditure side, Hansen showed public safety as the largest departmental cost and noted contract services and liability insurance increases. Personnel costs are up by about $195,000, including absorption of two housing‑division staff into the general fund. Department highlights included a new $100,000 citywide ADA improvement project, pavement maintenance allocations, GIS software for asset tracking, and a proposed City Hall charging station funded from AQMD funds.

The capital improvement program (CIP) presented includes mostly carryover projects and new items such as City Hall solar/charging upgrades, Riverfront Park renovations, pedestrian safety improvements near schools (solar flashers at crosswalks) and bus‑shelter upgrades funded by a Metro grant and Prop A/County funds. Hansen and staff said total budgeted expenditures across all funds are about $24 million.

Council members and staff discussed service priorities and constraints. Council members raised equity and youth‑focused program ideas —tenant protections reporting, youth leadership supports, and mental‑health crisis prevention programs— and asked how those objectives could be reflected in the budget. Council and staff emphasized heavy dependence on grants to expand programming within Maywood’s limited local revenue base. Mayor Pro Tem and council members also pressed for continued public outreach prior to budget adoption; staff said the draft will return as a formal public‑hearing item with the final agenda.

The presentation closed with staff’s stated next steps: prepare a final proposed budget for public hearing and adoption and return to council with any needed adjustments or newly secured grant funds.