Salinas finance committee reviews preliminary FY 2025–26 budget with $3.2M fund balance, staffing and capital needs

The Salinas Finance Committee on May 6 received a preliminary update on the city’s FY 2025–26 budget that projects a preliminary estimated general fund balance of about $3,200,000 for the current year and anticipates revenues of about $185 million and expenditures of about $185.4 million in the coming fiscal year.

Finance Director Selena Andrews told the committee staff had prepared a condensed “budget in brief” alongside the full budget and highlighted priorities including maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, information-technology improvements and preparations for projected development growth. “As with as with most municipalities, repairs and maintenance, of facilities and infrastructure continue to be an ongoing need, today and into the future,” Andrews said.

The update showed a current-year preliminary estimated fund balance of $3,200,000 and an estimated general fund balance of $3,400,000 at the close of FY 2025–26 under the preliminary plan. Revenues are projected to rise to about $185,000,000 (a roughly $4.8 million increase), and projected expenditures were listed at about $185,400,000 (a 6.2% increase from the prior year). Andrews said some non-discretionary…