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Board hears 2026 parks budget projection, approves nonreverting funds report; city finance staff detail cash balances and SB 1 shortfall
Summary
Parks staff presented the proposed 2026 budget, explained government accounting timing, projected cash balances and shortfalls caused by SB 1; the board approved the nonreverting funds budget line for parks.
Tracy, city finance staff, and Denise presented the parks department’s proposed 2026 budget and an estimated fund-balance sheet prepared with Baker Tilly. Staff said the full 2026 proposed parks budget remained under review and had been tabled earlier to correct errors; Tracy and Denise said they continued to refine figures ahead of formal adoption.
Tracy explained the difference between budgeted expenditures and cash-flow timing, noting the board’s operating expenses were at about 67% through August while revenue was at about 38% — a timing difference staff said was largely driven by property tax installments that arrive later in the year. Denise and Tracy said the city maintains a cash balance to cover bills when revenues are seasonal.
Denise told the board that state legislation SB 1 has reduced parks revenue and that the department’s portion of that shortfall was about $126,000. Staff described Baker Tilly projections and said their cash-flow worksheet showed a lower-than-target operating capital percentage for 2026 (the department’s working goal is 10%). Denise said the current projected operating capital percentage was around 9.35% under current assumptions.
Board members asked for a year-end savings report and for explanations of where unspent budget amounts are held; Tracy said unspent funds remain in the department’s cash balance and offered to provide a 2024 end-of-year report showing budgeted vs. spent amounts.
The board moved and approved the nonreverting funds budget for the parks department after discussion. A voice vote was recorded as “Aye” in the transcript; the meeting did not record an individual roll call or numeric tally in the public transcript.
Denise invited board members to the council committee presentation of the budget; Tracy said the presentation would be on the committee evening and encouraged board members to attend. Staff said they will continue to update the board as the budget is refined and to seek additional funding sources where possible.
