Fox Canyon GMA adopts 2025–26 budget, directs priority on new database and access improvements

The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency on July 23 adopted its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and directed staff to make building a new database and improving public access to agency data a high-priority item for the coming fiscal year.

Agency staff presented a draft budget showing fiscal-year 2024–25 actual revenues of about $7.3 million and a projected drop to roughly $4.0 million in 2025–26. Staff said the reduction primarily reflects the absence of a one-time implementation payment from the Department of Water Resources and a planned reduction in a sustainability fee. Draft expenses for 2025–26 were projected at approximately $5.5 million. The presentation included designated accounts, reserves and a plan to repay a $1 million loan the operating account previously borrowed from a surcharge account.

During discussion board members and public commenters repeatedly emphasized the GMA’s need for a modern, accessible database and web portal. Several directors and members of the public said the current systems are antiquated, hinder transparency and increase staff workload. A public commenter and directors proposed creating a staff position or hiring technical expertise (variously described in the meeting as a “data science” or database specialist) and running an agency-controlled system rather than relying on county IT for substantive programming.

The board adopted a three-part motion that: (1) adopted the FY 2025–26 draft budget as presented; (2) directed that building a new database and improving access to agency information be a high-priority objective during FY 2025–26; and (3) requested that the incoming executive officer return at the earliest practical time with specific recommendations for accomplishing the database work and that the fiscal committee review progress at the midyear (six-month) budget review. The motion passed on roll call.

Chair West, Director Trembley and others praised the fiscal committee and county accounting staff for extensive line-by-line review. A public commenter, Sarah West, noted the board had reduced the groundwater sustainability fee and praised staff and the fiscal committee for the transparency of the draft budget.

Why it matters: the budget determines staffing, project support and reserves for agency operations. Directing a high-priority, agency-controlled database effort signals an operational shift toward in-house data capability and transparency, which board members said is essential for watermaster operations, extraction accounting and public trust.

Details from the presentation: FY 2024–25 actual total revenues reported about $7,300,000; FY 2025–26 projected revenues about $4,000,000; projected FY 2025–26 expenses about $5,500,000; an operating reserve of $1,250,000 was shown in draft designated accounts. Staff said the draft budget would repay the operating loan from the surcharge account and that net designated accounts remain positive.