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San Ramon council approves midyear FY2024–25 budget adjustments, keeps reserves above policy
Summary
Council approved a midyear package of budget adjustments that staff said will preserve city operations and leave reserves just above the 36% policy level without counting recently approved Measure N revenues.
The San Ramon City Council on Feb. 11 approved a midyear set of budget amendments for fiscal year 2024–25 that staff said preserves services, restores some positions cut in the prior budget and keeps city reserves above the council’s 36% target even before Measure N receipts are counted.
Why it matters: The amendments adjust appropriations midyear to cover contract and operating costs that were not foreseen when the prior budget was adopted. City staff said the package is designed to “weather the storm” from a turbulent revenue environment while keeping core services funded and preparing for next year’s budget process.
Acting finance director Scott Cole presented the package, describing a total set of requests that were revised downward from the published packet to a $2.9 million net ask across funds. That amount included roughly $1.7 million to the General Fund and $800,000 to the Dougherty Valley fund, with the remainder in smaller special funds. Cole told the council that if every recommended amendment is approved, projected reserves would fall from an unaudited 45% at June 30, 2024 to about 37% by the end of FY2024–25 — still above the council policy minimum of 36%.
Cole and staff emphasized a conservative approach: Measure N (a 1% transactions and use tax approved by voters in November) is not budgeted in these amendments. HDL, the city’s sales‑tax consultant, revised the initial Measure N forecast down slightly (from an initial estimate of about $15.7 million to about $15.2 million) and staff said they prefer to see actual receipts before programming one‑time or ongoing expenditures against Measure N.
Key items in the midyear package included funding for public safety labor costs (the largest component), restoration of library hours at the San Ramon Library, funding for municipal services and some vehicle and equipment replacements and systems investments. Cole noted some of the adjustments were driven by previously authorized labor contracts and that some departmental staffing costs would be funded from non‑General Fund sources where appropriate.
Council action: Council voted to adopt Resolution No. 2025‑17 authorizing the midyear FY2024–25 budget adjustments as presented. (Outcome recorded: approved.)
What’s next: Staff will continue work on the FY2025–26 budget and return to the council for deeper budget work sessions; staff also will bring back options for any future use of Measure N proceeds after receipts are measured and after council establishes priorities.
