Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budgeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Salinas releases FY 2025–26 proposed budget; council seeks program and CIP priorities
Summary
City staff presented a proposed $275.3 million citywide budget and recommended modest additions to reserves and targeted staffing; council members pressed for clearer priorities for infrastructure (streets/sidewalks) and funding options for recurrent homelessness and street‑maintenance needs.
City staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget to the Salinas City Council during the May 27 special meeting, summarizing revenue, major spending categories, recommended additions to reserves and department requests for the coming year.
Numbers at a glance
Finance Director Selena Andrés and Assistant Finance Director Abe Pedroza described a citywide proposed budget of about $275.3 million that combines all funds (general fund, enterprise funds, capital projects and special funds). The proposed general fund revenue with transfers in was shown at roughly $184.2 million and proposed general fund uses at about $186.7 million; salaries and benefits are the largest single spending category (about $125.9 million, roughly two‑thirds of general‑fund personnel/service costs). Staff estimated the city has received about $76.1 million in homelessness‑related grants since 2020 and is backing reserves but warned of a projected funding cliff for homelessness programs in 2026–27.
Capital and reserves
Staff proposed a capital program of roughly $21.1 million for 2025–26 with emphasis on streets and sidewalks, engineering and transportation projects and a $3.6 million allocation tied to the El Rey Motel acquisition; they recommended a $1.3 million addition to the economic contingency reserve to maintain the council’s 12% general‑fund threshold and smaller allocations to infrastructure and facilities reserves. Staff also noted outstanding FEMA reimbursements (reported to staff as roughly $3.9 million) and other revenue risks.
Department highlights and staffing asks
Community Development asked for conversion of a part‑time senior planner to full time to support coordination of future growth area applications and to maintain permitting throughput amid a growing application pipeline; library and community services outlined park openings (Ensign Community Park) and maker space work; police and fire presented staffing, recruiting and training priorities, with the police department noting it had about 11 recruits in academy and continuing officer vacancies. Public Works emphasized pavement, stormwater and street projects and described tradeoffs between contractor and in‑house patching capacity.
Council reaction and next steps
Council members asked for clearer, comparative historic trends on personnel spending, a dashboard for capital projects and stronger proposals for funding recurring infrastructure needs (pavement and sidewalks). Several councilors emphasized the need to identify new revenue options if one‑time grants continue to decline. Staff said they will return with follow‑ups, more detailed program outcome reporting (especially for homelessness investments), and recommended budget priorities for adoption during the budget hearings.
