Chino council adopts fiscal year 2025–26 budget; Measure V spending and transparency requested by council

The Chino City Council unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 budget on June 17, after staff incorporated changes made during the meeting, including a $3 million reduction in General Fund revenue estimates tied to lowering the DIF administrative surcharge from 12% to 3%.

Director of Finance Kim Sow summarized updates since the May 22 budget workshop: a $2.5 million preliminary estimate for a Civic Center painting and repair program (staff reserved $50,000 pending further research and set aside $2.45 million from fund balance to hold for the project), funds for Preserve teen center programming (about $168,000 including a $90,000 van), and an additional $200,000 for the West End Regional Navigation Center funded from the affordable housing fund.

Staff highlighted the continued importance of Measure V, which the budget assumes contributes roughly $24.5 million in the current year. With Measure V, the budget projects a $4.5 million surplus; without it, staff said the city would face a large structural deficit. Councilmembers from several benches asked for more granular public disclosure of Measure V expenditures. City manager and staff said they will expand the level of detail on a transparency portal and aim to present a project‑level breakdown by September 2025.

Staff also noted $87.7 million in previously approved projects that will carry forward into the new fiscal year if not completed by June 30, and that the city’s appropriations limit (Gann limit) is well above projected tax revenues for the year.

The council voted 5–0 to adopt the budget and related appropriations limit.