Selma BID board approves draft 2025–26 budget, directs staff to present to City Council

Selma Business Improvement District advisory board members voted to approve a draft budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and directed staff to present the budget to the Selma City Council for final approval.

The budget adopted by the BID advisory board includes a proposed $85,000 allocation for downtown beautification and improvements, a line for marketing that reflects the social media contractor at $1,800 per month, $10,000 set aside for event support and a contingency; staff said the plan would reduce the beginning fund balance by about $7,000 and leave an estimated ending balance of roughly $53,000.

Jerome, deputy city manager, presented the staff report and said the draft reflects anticipated beginning fund balance and assessment revenue for 2025–26, plus contributions the City has put forward. "I distributed, for marketing and promotional, that would be, AdVine's contract at $1,800 a month for 12 months, which is 21600 dollars," Jerome said during the presentation. He also described the $85,000 beautification line as funding for street furniture, trash cans with artwork and updated street signs to be procured through Public Works.

Board members and members of the public pressed staff for additional details on revenues and fund balance. A discussion before the vote covered how assessment revenues are collected over the year (staff noted roughly 50% of anticipated assessment revenue had been collected through April 30), the process for pursuing delinquent assessments, and that the budgeted beautification and furniture had not yet been ordered or paid for. Member Moreno said the board should expand events beyond a single recurring food-truck night and work to involve businesses across Front Street, McCall and High Street so the benefit is distributed across the district.

During public comment, business owners and residents supported broader event programming and more prominent downtown branding. Scott Robertson, calling in, noted how some regulated businesses such as insurance agencies pay a flat fee to the Department of Insurance and asked the board to consider regulatory differences when auditing gross receipts used for assessments.

The board voted on a motion to approve the proposed budget and forward it to City Council; the motion passed by voice vote. The version presented to the council may be revised later: Jerome told the board that the draft is flexible and can be amended if event costs or vendor pricing requires adjustments.

The board and staff also discussed timing and phasing for installation of street furniture and signs, and staff said they will work with Public Works on the procurement documents and bid process. Jerome said if the city contribution were not received, the board would likely need to use more of the fund balance and possibly phase purchases over two years.

The board did not adopt a final, city-adopted budget at the meeting; it approved a draft to recommend to the City Council for adoption.

The board scheduled further work on event planning, branding and procurement in coming meetings and requested members and the public provide content and story ideas that staff and the contractor can use for promotion.