Lancaster details $282 million budget and Measure LC/YM project list, including police expansion and new event center

Lancaster City Manager Trollise Niebla told the City oversight committee Wednesday that the city’s total budget is “282,000,000 ish,” and that about $139,000,000 of that is the general fund.

The presentation summarized four years of spending from local sales tax measures known as Measure LC and Measure YM and laid out the projects and staffing the city plans to support in the coming year, including public safety, parks and recreation, public‑facing events, and economic reinvestment.

Niebla said the city also maintains roughly $48,000,000 in reserves—about 40% of the general fund—and credited the council’s long‑term fiscal approach and local revenue initiatives for the city’s fiscal position. “That is the green bucket, otherwise known as the money that has no strings attached,” Niebla said of the general fund.

Why it matters: The oversight presentation shows how locally approved sales tax measures are being used to expand city services and capital projects rather than one‑time spending. Staff said ongoing programs and debt service tied to prior capital commitments will factor into budgets for years to come.

Key budget and project details

- Measures total: Niebla reported the two measures combined add up to about $43,600,000 in total, roughly $21,800,000 apiece. He said those dollars represent roughly 31% of the general fund and are a significant portion of the city’s retail transaction receipts.

- Paris Convention Center / MARC facility: Niebla described a multibuilding event center under construction at the fairgrounds—three buildings including a 140,000‑square‑foot event center and a 20,000‑square‑foot auditorium—saying staff recently saw steel going up on the site.

- Avialta soccer stadium: The city converted a baseball stadium to soccer at a reported cost of about $17,000,000 and is averaging about 4,500 attendees per game, Niebla said.

- Midtown Education Center (former Desert Christian High School): The city spent $4,900,000 to acquire the campus; staff said an additional $1,500,000 is included in the budget to outfit the facility for youth programming and technology needs.

- Shopmore Lancaster gift card program: Niebla said the budget includes $900,000 for the program this year, and that the two‑year total for the program will be about $1.1 million when prior funding is combined.

- Paris Convention Center operations and debt service: Niebla told the committee the city has contributed $3,000,000 annually toward the convention center historically; this year debt service is approximately $3,500,000 and is projected to rise to about $4,100,000 the following year.

Citywide services and technology

The presentation described several citywide technology and service investments funded with the measure proceeds and general fund support: a web conversational bot (Ask Andy/CitiBot) and planned phone bot, expanded illegal dumping and graffiti cleanup crews, a City Detect camera program on fleet vehicles for code enforcement, and a NoiseNet product to support nuisance complaints.

Niebla said code enforcement funding increased and now includes both in‑house officers and contract staff. He described $2,800,000 in citywide technology improvements in the budget and said gas tax–funded street work will receive a $2,000,000 general fund subsidy this year.

Public safety and police department funding

Police Chief Rod Armelon and city staff said the measures have underwritten a significant expansion of Lancaster Police Department capacity and technology.

Chief Armelon said the department has sworn in officers, promoted two sergeants and is hiring additional motor officers and dispatchers. Niebla and staff said the police department now totals about 46 full‑time equivalents (FTEs) in the facility, including sworn and non‑sworn personnel; of those, staff said 29 are non‑sworn positions supporting homeless teams, cleanup and technical operations.

The department has invested in technology systems including an LA RICS radio system tied to county partners, a Spotter (gunfire detection) system that began operating in March, and an “intelligence crime center” that staff said has assisted in 74 cases this year, including three homicides. Chief Armelon also described a mobile drone program and license‑plate reading cameras (FLOT cameras) that can help detect wanted vehicles and support officer safety.

Niebla and Armelon said traffic enforcement will expand when motor officers begin operations; the city expects to swear in motorcycle officers in July. Niebla said the city funded $11,400,000 for police in prior years with an additional $4,400,000 added this year.

Homeless and community response work

Staff said homeless outreach and cleanup teams have been increased to three teams; the presentation said those teams removed “over 550 tons” of debris from encampments over the past fiscal year. The chief and city manager said ordinance changes and court decisions last year gave local teams more enforcement tools, and that teams are combining outreach and enforcement when appropriate.

Next steps and timing

Niebla told the committee the budget presentation follows a council workshop and oversight review and will go to the council for final adoption before the new fiscal year; he reminded the committee that the fiscal year begins July 1. He said staff will return in the fall with a report on actual spending and a mid‑year review after six months of operations.

Speakers

- Trollise Niebla, city manager (presentation lead) - Rod Armelon, chief of police - George Bose, chair - Committee member Burden - Committee member Derryberry - Committee member Yeager - Sonya Patterson, parks and recreation director (referenced by staff)

Clarifying details

- Total city budget described as approximately $282,000,000; general fund approximately $139,000,000. - Reserve cited at about $48,000,000 (approximately 40% of the general fund). - Measures LC and YM combined roughly $43,600,000 (about $21,800,000 each). - Avialta stadium conversion cost described as about $17,000,000. - Midtown Education Center (former Desert Christian High School) acquisition: $4,900,000, plus $1,500,000 added to this year’s budget for technology and equipment. - Shopmore Lancaster program: $900,000 included in this year’s budget; two‑year total around $1,100,000 according to staff comments. - Police funding: $11,400,000 funded last year with an additional $4,400,000 this year; police department headcount cited as 46 FTEs with 29 non‑sworn staff. - Paris Convention Center debt service: approximately $3,500,000 this year and $4,100,000 next year (figures provided by staff).

Proper names

- Lancaster City (agency) - Paris Convention Center / MARC facility (facility) - Avialta (soccer team/stadium) - Midtown Education Center / Desert Christian High School (school / program site) - Shopmore Lancaster (program) - LA RICS (radio system) - Ask Andy / CitiBot (city chatbot) - NoiseNet (code enforcement audio detection) - City Detect (code enforcement camera program)

Community relevance

- Geographies: Lancaster; Antelope Valley; Palmdale (regional partners discussed for MARC facility) - Funding sources: Measure LC, Measure YM, regular sales tax receipts, Measure R/transportation funds, general fund subsidies, gas tax. - Impact groups: Lancaster residents, youth and after‑school program participants, downtown businesses, motorists, people experiencing homelessness.

Discussion vs. decision

The oversight committee heard a multi‑part informational presentation; staff did not propose a new ordinance or take formal action on new policy during this meeting. Staff identified next administrative steps (presentation to council for adoption and fall reporting) but no committee motion or vote on the budget was recorded in the transcript excerpt.

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