Salinas finance committee reviews preliminary FY2025–26 budget, flags reserves and public-safety requests

At a May 6 meeting of the Salinas Finance Committee, Finance Director Selena Anders presented a preliminary update on the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget, outlining revenue and expenditure forecasts, proposed reserve replenishment and personnel requests for public safety and other departments.

Anders told the committee the city’s preliminary estimated general fund balance for the current year is $3,200,000 and that staff projects an estimated general fund balance of $3,400,000 at the close of fiscal year 2025–26. “We have a preliminary estimated fund balance of 3,200,000.0,” Anders said. She reported projected revenues of about $185,000,000 and projected expenditures of about $185,400,000 for 2025–26, an approximate 6.2% increase from the prior year.

The committee was told the budget assumes some non‑discretionary cost increases — including general liability premiums, debt service and an animal‑shelter joint powers agreement — plus salary and benefit increases. Anders said staff is presenting a more…