Camarillo adopts balanced FY 2025–26 budget with one‑time uses of fund balance and employee 3% COLA
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Summary
City finance staff presented a proposed FY 2025–26 budget showing all‑fund revenues of roughly $142.1 million and expenditures of about $159.0 million with planed one‑time uses of fund balance for capital and loans; council approved the recommended budget actions.
City finance staff presented the Camarillo proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget at the June council meeting and the council approved the recommended actions adopting the budget and related annual items.
Finance staff (presenter Mark Uribe in the transcript) told the council that the city’s proposed budget combines approximately $142.1 million in revenues across all funds and roughly $159.0 million in expenditures, with the difference covered by available fund balance and one‑time uses. The general fund was described as the largest operating fund (reported around $58.8 million), with water funds combined at about $31.9 million and the Camarillo Sanitary District at about $25.0 million. Staff said the proposed budget is structurally balanced across a five‑year forecast while including planned one‑time uses of fund balance for capital projects and an anticipated internal loan to the water fund.
Staff reviewed capital spending proposed for 2025–26: transportation projects ($9.4 million), water projects ($8.0 million), buildings and grounds ($6.6 million) and sanitary district projects ($5.5 million). The presentation noted a specific transportation commitment: the city’s budgeted contribution to the Camarillo train station undercrossing project is $959,000 for FY 2025–26, and staff said the city’s total share is estimated at about $910,000 with the remainder expected from grants and the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
On long‑term and reserve matters, staff explained GASB Statement No. 54 fund balance commitments and presented a recommended commitment schedule. Staff also described the Pension Rate Stabilization Program (PRSP) trust and said the budget includes a $1.4 million draw on that trust to pay the city’s annual contribution toward the unfunded accrued pension liability; staff said they expect to replenish that draw within the first six months of FY 2025–26 from projected surplus revenues.
The proposed compensation action included in the budget is a 3 percent cost‑of‑living adjustment for all employees, effective July 1, 2025; the COLA also applies to the assistant city manager and department director salaries. Staff told council that the budget assumes estimated contract increases (including for the sheriff contract) and some vacancy savings to offset those estimates.
Council deliberations at the meeting referenced previous budget workshop discussions; councilmembers thanked finance staff and department heads for extensive prior work. The council took multiple recorded roll calls approving the Camarillo Sanitary District actions and the city budget adoption motions; recorded votes in the transcript show affirmative votes by Councilmember Martinez Bravo, Councilmember Santangelo, Councilmember Tremblay, Vice Mayor Tennyson and Mayor Kildee on the items with full attendance, and a later 4–0 vote was recorded on a separate item with Mayor Kildee absent where noted.
Staff and council emphasized the budget’s reliance on healthy reserves and on planned one‑time fund uses and directed staff to continue financial monitoring and public outreach on budget materials for clarity.
