Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts FY‑26 budget after agreeing to pause El Cerrito pickleball project until year‑end
Summary
Council members approved the fiscal year 2026 proposed budget and voted to defer the El Cerrito pickleball capital project until the end of the calendar year to assess demand after nearby private courts open.
The Corona City Council approved the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and, in a separate decision during debate, voted to pause construction of a planned pickleball complex at El Cerrito park until the end of the calendar year.
Deputy Finance Director Julie Kennicott presented the budget to the council, saying total revenue estimates across all funds are about $523.3 million and total expenditures are estimated at about $456.3 million for the coming fiscal year. Kennicott noted the water utility revenue spike in FY23 reflected a one‑time settlement and the general fund’s top revenue sources are sales and property taxes.
Council members discussed several line items in the capital improvement program. Council member Tony Daddario asked for a pause on the CIP project FCD-2026-05 — a line item of just under $1.1 million to build pickleball courts at El Cerrito — citing the near‑term opening of 17 new privately operated courts at Eagle Glen and the risk of oversaturating local demand. Staff estimated a design and construction timeline of roughly 18 months for the El Cerrito project, meaning it would not open before 2027.
After debate, a motion to pause the El Cerrito pickleball project until the end of the calendar year and return the matter to the council for review passed 3–2. Supporters said the short pause would let council review how the new Eagle Glen facility affects demand before spending public funds; opponents warned of negative optics and of depriving residents of public courts. The remainder of the budget and related administrative actions were then approved by the council (subsequent votes on the remaining recommended actions were recorded in the minutes as 5–0).
Why it matters: The decision delays one capital project to test demand dynamics in the city, while the adopted budget sets spending priorities across public safety, infrastructure and Measure X allocations. Staff noted Measure X allocations include public safety, debt retirement, homelessness and service improvements.
