Lake Elsinore adopts FY2025‑26 operating budget amid debate over economic development and patrol hours

The Lake Elsinore City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025‑26 annual operating budget and the schedule of authorized positions after staff presented revenue and expenditure estimates and councilmembers debated priorities.

Assistant Administrative Services Director Raffety presented the operating budget and said major revenue increases came from sales and property taxes. Raffety said public safety accounts for roughly 48% of the city's budget and that the city expects to maintain a 20% reserve. He said police services are receiving about $4.7 million to maintain service levels and add a traffic motor deputy; fire services are receiving $3.25 million to staff a medic squad and to cover replacement of Quint 97.

Council discussion: Mayor Pro Tem McGee expressed concerns about rising spending and staffing, noting last year's creation of an economic development department and its roughly $1 million request. McGee said she had not seen a clear return on that investment yet and questioned a separate request to add 12 hours of patrol time with the sheriff's office, which staff estimated could exceed $1 million. She also raised planning staffing shortfalls, noting the department had five professional staff currently versus eight in 1986 and multiple unfunded positions. McGee said she was “not inclined to support this budget” as presented and asked for midyear adjustments.

Councilwoman Natasha Johnson defended continued economic development investment, saying this is “not the time when sales tax is down to pull back” and argued the city must invest to drive future revenues. Johnson said the budget subcommittee had reviewed the patrol‑hours request and that calls for service were trending down; she supported adding a motor dedicated to traffic instead of funding 12 additional patrol hours immediately.

Councilmember Manos and others thanked staff for the budget preparation and acknowledged the mix of funded projects and wish‑list items that will depend on grants. Treasurer Castro encouraged the public to review budget materials on the city website.

A motion to approve the annual operating budget and the schedule of authorized positions was made by Councilwoman Johnson and seconded by Councilmember Manos. The meeting record shows the motion carried; the transcript records the vote as “that motion carries” but does not include an explicit numerical tally in the transcript excerpt.

Next steps: staff will implement the adopted budget and report back to the council on midyear adjustments or as projects/funding change.