Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ridgecrest proposes balanced FY26 budget while addressing Measure V and gas tax shortfalls
Summary
City staff presented a proposed FY2026 budget they described as balanced, outlining general fund revenues and expenditures, projected reserves and specific shortfalls in Measure V and the gas tax fund that the plan aims to correct by FY27.
Ridgecrest city staff presented a proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 they described as balanced, projecting $22.3 million in general‑fund revenue and $20.9 million in expenditures.
The plan keeps an estimated general fund balance at about $15.8 million and relies on established revenue streams: property tax, transient occupancy tax, franchise fees and three sales‑tax streams (Bradley‑Burns, Measure V and Measure P), plus service charges and intergovernmental receipts.
City staff said the FY26 package was prepared to reflect lower sales‑tax receipts following a recent three‑year revenue run‑up and to address two fund imbalances. Measure V showed an estimated ending shortfall of $1.8 million for the year, and the gasoline‑tax fund carried a reported shortfall of roughly $780,000. Staff said the FY26 budget would balance those funds and leave them even entering FY27.
The FY26 proposal distributes the general fund across departments with police services forming the largest share at about 45 percent; parks and recreation was about 15 percent; finance and IT together roughly 9 percent; and community development about 9 percent. Personnel costs account for about 51 percent of general‑fund spending.
Measure V and Measure P were summarized in the presentation. Measure V revenue was estimated near $5.8 million; staff reported carryover and reserve uses leaving a negative balance for the year that staff plan to remedy in FY26. Measure P revenue was also estimated at about $5.8 million, with bond debt service and transfers reserved for the city’s pool bond payment and public‑safety priorities. Staff emphasized Measure P does not yet include the pool project construction cost because the project has not been bid.
City staff presented the proposed fee schedule increases tied to CPI and asked council to return the budget for final action on June 4. Staff emphasized the document remains a living plan and that adjustments can be made during the fiscal year.
Overall, staff framed the package as a conservative, maintenance‑oriented budget that prioritizes restoring balanced reserves for Measure V and the gas tax fund while funding ongoing services.
