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Hawaiian Gardens staff warn expenditures could outpace revenues; council reviews reserves, projects and staffing
Summary
At a May 22 budget workshop, finance staff showed revenues have flattened while expenditures rise, prompting discussion of reserves, card‑club and casino revenue, planned capital projects including Ferguson Field improvements, staff additions and a proposed private security contract.
City finance staff told the Hawaiian Gardens City Council on May 22 that rising costs and largely flat casino‑derived revenue could push expenditures above revenues in coming years, and presented options including drawing on reserves, pursuing grants and adjusting staffing and contracts.
The city's finance director, Linda Hollingsworth, walked council members through multi‑year revenue and expenditure trends and a proposed 2026–27 budget. She said the casino remains the city’s largest revenue source — listed on a slide as 61.5% of projected revenues for 2026–27 — while tax revenues represent about 25.1%. “The budget really is just a guide for us,” Hollingsworth said, and added the presentation was informational: staff did not expect the council to adopt a final budget at the workshop.
Why this matters: Hawaiian Gardens relies heavily on a casino and a card‑club for general‑fund revenue. Staff cautioned that a long‑running agreement that waived some card‑club fees is expected to end around November, which will add revenue but also reflects a contractual…
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