Santa Rosa oversight committee approves FY 2025–26 Measure O (PSAP) budget; flags out‑year shortfalls

The Public Safety and Prevention Tax citizen oversight committee for the City of Santa Rosa approved the fiscal year 2025'26 Measure O (PSAP) budget and implementation plan at its May 1 meeting after hearing presentations from the fire department, police department and the city's violence prevention/parks and recreation staff. The committee also elected Member Holmes as vice chair and approved prior minutes from Oct. 30, 2024.

The budget vote funds personnel, equipment and capital projects funded by Measure O/PSAP, including continued support for a full engine company paid by PSAP, transport-capable advanced life‑support squads and community-based violence prevention programs. Staff identified a near-term financing step to cover a $3 million shortfall for Station 8 (Roseland) and warned the committee that a new street-outreach contract is expected to create out-year budget pressure unless additional revenues or adjustments are made.

The budget matters because Measure O/PSAP funds pay for frontline public-safety personnel and targeted prevention programs that the city and staff said contributed to reductions in violent crime and improved response times. Committee members pressed staff for more demographic program data and a clearer plan to address projected deficits in fiscal 2026'27.

Fire department presentation

Scott Westrop, Fire Chief, and Sarah Roberts, finance analyst, presented the Fire Department's PSAP proposal and a three-year forecast. Staff reported net changes in the proposed operating budget tied to negotiated salary increases (about $234,000 in salaries and $131,000 in benefits) and a $38,000 reduction in services and supplies that includes removing one-time explorer program funding allocated last year.

Chief Westrop and Roberts described capital plans for Station 8 (Roseland) and Station 11 (Lewis…