Redding finance director outlines budget shortfalls; council orders oversight and reporting changes

Greg Robinette, Redding's finance director, told the City Council in a lengthy presentation that the city's biennial budget and 10-year financial plan have been strained by lower-than-expected sales-tax receipts, implementation delays in a new enterprise financial system and several large personnel and benefit cost increases adopted in recent years. "As an accountant, I've always taken my responsibility seriously of questioning myself, questioning my work," Robinette said as he outlined the budget cycle, the 10-year plan and adjustments tied to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

The presentation laid out why the city's 10-year plan begins below the council's 10% reserve policy but projects recovery through the adopted FY26 and FY27 budgets, and described how cash is reconciled from audited statements to the budgetary basis. Robinette also reviewed the Oracle financial system rollout and timeline (financials go-live 07/01/2023; human capital management delayed to 10/13/2024; budget module live 01/01/2025), and said the first audited comprehensive financial report (ACFR) from the new system was delivered on 03/18/2025. He noted that monthly cash reports will begin on 11/18/2025.

Why it matters: Redding's general fund relies heavily on sales tax, and the council must weigh staff and…