Ojai council adopts $33.9 million budget with targeted amendments and new line items

The Ojai City Council on June 24 adopted the city’s recommended $33.9 million budget for fiscal year 2025–26, approving several council-requested changes and directing staff to return with follow‑up reports on departmental changes and program spending.

The council voted to increase operations funding for the Ojai Valley Museum from $60,000 to $75,000 and to boost arts commission grant funding from $30,000 to $100,000. It approved $63,000 for a Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) survey, added $122,175 to the city’s animal services contract line to match the actual contract, and authorized a $5,000 contracted payment to support the Ojai Day mandala. Council members also asked staff to report back on Measure C allocation policy, legal‑services protocols, and climate and facility‑efficiency funding efforts.

Why it matters: The adopted budget funds core services, capital improvements of about $14.2 million and work the council has prioritized for wildfire mitigation, street maintenance and community programs. Council members and members of the public pressed for clearer lines showing where grants and restricted funds pay for projects, and for transparency on several existing initiatives.

Most important details: Finance staff presented a budget that funds $33,900,000 in expenditures across all funds and $16.7 million in general‑fund spending. Staff said the general fund projection conservatively reflects revenues through April and does not yet fully count the newly opened hotel’s impact on transient‑occupancy (hotel) tax. The adopted budget includes 1.5 maintenance‑worker positions (one halftime in recreation and one full time in public works) funded by Measure C; capital projects including the public‑works lower‑yard project; and set aside reserves projected at about $19.5 million.

Council amendments and process direction: After public comment and back‑and‑forth among council members, the council made these specific changes before adopting the budget: - $63,000 for the Historic Preservation Commission to complete a historic‑resource survey; - increase Ojai Valley Museum operating support from $60,000 to $75,000; - increase arts commission grants from $30,000 to $100,000; - increase the animal services contract line to $122,175 to match the contract; - add a $5,000 line for contracted labor to stage the Ojai Day mandala.

Council also directed staff to bring several follow‑up reports: a detailed departmental presentation to explain notable changes; a plan to complete the FY 2024–25 audit; a narrative and cost accounting for ongoing programs such as the city’s encampment/tent‑town responses; a proposal for Measure C allocation policy; and an update on climate‑related grants and the recently awarded Climate Tech facility audit. Staff said these follow‑ups will be scheduled on the working agenda (the council asked for an August report on departmental changes).

Public input and priorities: Speakers at the public hearing urged higher funding for the museum and historic‑preservation work, and asked for clearer accounting of how Measure C and other grant funds are spent. Several commenters asked the council to spell out a policy for Measure C allocations and to clarify whether city funds are being used to augment grant‑funded work on climate and fire projects.

What’s next: The council adopted the General Appropriations Limit (GANN) resolution as part of the package and approved the investment policy. Staff said the budget is a “living document” and will be amended during the fiscal year as grants are accepted and priorities are refined. The council asked staff to return with the list of requested follow‑up items in August for review and, where appropriate, further council action.

Ending: With the budget adopted, council members said they expect regular reporting and transparency so the public can track capital projects, grant spending and the newly funded programs.