Salinas finance committee reviews proposed FY 2025–26 budget, hears details on streets, staffing and parks

The Salinas Finance Committee on June 10 reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 operating and capital budget, receiving details on roughly $285 million in proposed spending, proposed capital investments in streets and sidewalks, and several staff additions and reclassifications across departments. The committee approved the consent agenda at the start of the meeting.

Finance Director Selena Andrews told the committee, “The proposed city budget increased to approximately 285,000,000, with the additional operating and capital investments that we'll go over today and are also identified in the staff report.” Andrews said the presentation reflected direction from council strategic goals adopted in May and that staff will return to present the formal proposed budget on June 17.

Why this matters: the update lays out where the city is proposing to direct one-time and ongoing dollars for infrastructure, code enforcement, public safety and parks. Several council members pressed staff for clearer, communicable metrics—such as lane miles or percent more pavement—before the proposed budget is finalized.

Capital projects and operating changes Staff described $8 million in additional capital improvement program (CIP) investments that will be incorporated into the proposed budget. Those specific recommendations include: - Sidewalks and street repairs: an additional $2,000,000 for a total of about $11,300,000 for the…