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Council reviews recommended FY 2025'26 budget; staff says city remains fiscally stable with reserves above policy
Summary
Interim Finance Director Christy Billings presented the draft FY 2025'26 recommended budget and said the city projects reserves above the 100% policy target; councilors asked for follow-up detail on line items and asked staff to return with updates before final adoption June 24.
The Ojai City Council reviewed a recommended fiscal year 2025'26 budget staff presented as a draft and living document, with final adoption scheduled for the council's June 24 meeting.
Interim Finance Director Christy Billings told the council the city's proposed budget shows transfers and expenditures across all funds of roughly $44 million and a general fund total of about $17 million. The finance staff projects the city will exceed its 100% reserve policy by roughly $1.5 million (staff and a council member's calculations showed the excess reserve figure in the $1.5'$2.0 million range), providing near-term fiscal flexibility.
Billings and Accounting Manager Norma Cervantes reviewed revenue assumptions, noting transient occupancy tax (hotel tax) is the largest general-fund revenue source this year and that the city had budgeted conservatively for property tax given prior redevelopment unwinding in fiscal 2024. Council members asked about several specific line items, including information-technology increases, the sheriff contract and the small fund balance in assessment districts. Billings said some 2024'25 budget figures had not been updated to reflect midyear salary changes and staff turnover, and described follow-up work to reconcile prior-year numbers and bring more visuals and transparency into the budget book.
Public commenters urged council action on wildfire mitigation funding and recommended that the city consider directing a portion of interest earnings or reserves to fire-risk reduction projects. Several commissions and nonprofit representatives requested modest increases in city support for the Historic Preservation Committee, Ojai Valley Museum and arts grants; staff said some requests could be addressed in the tactics the council will monetize as they finalize goals.
Council members asked that staff accept public questions on the draft and return with a short list of changes made between this review and the June 24 adoption meeting. Council also asked staff to lay out options for prioritizing and funding council goals and tactics from the available fiscal cushion.
