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Pacifica staff flags structural budget shortfall; recommends short‑term uses of one‑time revenue and longer‑term revenue strategies
Summary
City staff told the council the long‑term financial forecast shows a structural shortfall that will widen without action. Staff proposed three preliminary approaches: (1) temporarily retain Vehicle License Fee/ERAF (VLF) backfill revenues in the general fund to help balance near‑term operations; (2) set aside an assigned reserve to mitigate the
Pacifica staff told the City Council on April 14 that the city faces a structural budget gap that will widen in coming years without a mix of short‑term patching and longer‑term revenue growth. Assistant City Manager Yulia Carter and City Manager Kevin Woodhouse presented the long‑term financial forecast and proposed preliminary budget strategies to guide the FY2025–26 budget process.
The staff forecast shows operating expenditures outpacing revenues under current service levels; staff emphasized the problem is not a single line item but a sustained gap driven by rising operating costs and flat or uncertain recurring revenues. Carter told councilors the forecast assumes current services continue, and it excludes any new, unapproved service enhancements or capital investments. The presentation reiterated that some revenue streams (notably vehicle license fee/ERAF backfills and short‑term rental/TOT receipts) are variable and the city’s financial plan must address that uncertainty.
Three preliminary…
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