Indio council adopts $459 million citywide budget, directs follow-up on animal-control contract

The City of Indio City Council unanimously approved the citywide fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budgets on June 4, adopting resolutions that together cover the city, the Indio Housing Authority, the Indio Water Authority and the Indio Electric Finance Authority.

Ruby Waller, director of finance for the City of Indio, presented the recommended budget and described it as balanced. “We are able to present you with a balanced budget today for the city and for the Indio Water Authority,” Waller told the council during the presentation.

The approved package covers a citywide budget of roughly $459 million; a general fund budget of about $129.8 million; and an Indio Water Authority budget presented at roughly $36.7 million, including $10 million in capital and $1.5 million for vehicle replacement. Council also approved separate authority budgets and the finance authority’s operating and capital plan during the same vote. The council approved one-time contributions of $1.5 million to OPEB and $1 million to the city’s pension trust (PARS) as part of the package.

Why it matters: The budget funds core services, capital projects and debt obligations while reflecting council priorities such as Measure X commitments and the police department’s staffing and operations. Waller told the council that tax revenue growth is flattening and that expenditures are rising faster than revenues — a factor the council will watch in future years.

Key details and debate - Measure X: The proposed distribution of Measure X proceeds shown in the budget includes allocations to streets and roads and public safety. Waller said net proceeds would be transferred to a Measure X capital fund to centralize those expenditures. The Measure X-related commitments in the packet total roughly $10.6 million for capital items and related transfers. The presentation noted a $300,000 adjustment to Measure X transfers to align with anticipated revenue and transfers out.

- Capital plan and public hearing: Staff said the capital improvement plan (CIP) will be presented for adoption at a public hearing on June 8, 2025, in accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act’s annual-adoption requirement for development-impact fees. Major capital items cited during the presentation include the police department headquarters build and Monroe interchange-related projects; the packet listed a city CIP program totaling about $205 million and an IWA capital program around $14 million (figures reflect items included in the staff presentation).

- Positions and staffing: Waller said the authorized position listing was reconciled and that the adopted budget recognizes 298 full‑time authorized positions (the packet notes part‑time positions counted as half‑FTE for the total) with funded part‑time positions included separately. The budget includes funds for an intern and fellowship program (initially budgeted as 12 part‑time intern/fellow positions over the year), two part‑time community grama positions to support code enforcement, and other staffing adjustments reflected in internal service allocations.

- Police, fire and public-safety spending: The presentation showed police protection as the single largest share of the general fund. Council members discussed recruitment and retention challenges and noted that public-safety costs — including a rising bill for county fire services — have increased substantially over the last five years. Council members asked staff to pursue competitive-salary data and to factor recruitment/retention into future bargaining and budget work.

Animal-control contractor accountability A substantial line of questioning during the budget discussion focused on the city’s contract for animal-control sheltering and officers. One council member said the city is paying for three full‑time animal-control officers identified in the contract but that residents report not seeing officers, particularly on weekends, and that dead animals sometimes remain on streets over the weekend.

City Manager Montgomery and staff reported they had met with the county contractor (the city’s animal-care contractor) and that the contractor has requested a new contract. Staff told council that the contractor asserts three full‑time animal-control officers are assigned to Indio from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, but council members said they are not seeing those officers in the community. Council directed staff to invite the county contractor to the next council meeting (the staff said the contract would be brought back for council consideration on June 18) and to request vehicle GPS logs or other evidence verifying patrol coverage and hours. Council also asked staff to request and report operational metrics such as pick‑ups, returns to owner, dead-animal removals, and other performance data on a regular schedule so council can evaluate whether contract funding matches service delivery.

Votes and next steps Council voted 5–0 to adopt: Resolution No. 10492 adopting the FY 2025–26 operating and capital budget for the City of Indio; Resolution No. 10493 establishing the city’s appropriations limit for FY 2025–26; Resolution No. 10494 adopting a citywide classification and compensation plan; resolution(s) adopting the operating budgets for the Indio Housing Authority, Indio Water Authority and Indio Electric Finance Authority; and related budget resolutions read into the record as part of the motion.

The council asked staff to return the CIP for public hearing and adoption on June 8, to present the proposed animal-control contract and contractor staff for the June 18 meeting, and to continue monitoring revenues, Measure X allocations and public‑safety cost trends.

Quotes “We are able to present you with a balanced budget today for the city and for the Indio Water Authority,” Ruby Waller, director of finance, said while introducing the budget.

“We can have that discussion with them with the presentation of their proposed contract at the next council meeting,” City Manager Montgomery said when council raised animal-control concerns.

Ending Council approved the budget package unanimously. Staff will present the CIP in a June 8 public hearing and return the proposed animal‑control contract and related contractor performance data for council consideration on June 18.