Thousand Oaks council receives two-year operating budget; staff outlines staffing and capital plans

The Thousand Oaks City Council on May 13 received a staff presentation of the proposed biennial operating budget for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Finance Director Jamie Boscarino said the city’s proposed two‑year operating budget is structurally balanced and was prepared conservatively given economic uncertainty. Boscarino said the citywide budget for FY 2025–26 is $305,800,000 and the FY 2026–27 proposal is $305,100,000; the proposed General Fund revenue budget for 2025–26 is $113,500,000 and $115,700,000 for 2026–27. She told the council the Capital Improvement Program presented in April includes about $160,000,000 in planned infrastructure investments over the two years.

The presentation described a modest net increase in staffing: four positions in year one and four in year two, including creation of a stand‑alone Information Technology department. Boscarino said 18 existing IT positions will move from Finance into the new department and seven additional IT positions will be added over two years. An existing vacant Human Resources position will be converted to a chief information officer (CIO). She said the city spread hires across the two years to reduce first‑year budget impact.

Boscarino and Budget Officer Ryan Roman said the city’s revenue mix remains concentrated in sales tax and property tax, which together account for the majority of General Fund revenue. Sales tax projections were modestly increased (2.1 percent) but staff emphasized caution because sales tax is sensitive to economic conditions. Staff also noted potential pressure on revenues from future rate changes and the possibility of drought reducing water sales.

Council members asked about contingency plans if revenues decline. Boscarino and City Manager Powers described prior experience during COVID and said staff would manage risk by reprioritizing CIP projects, using vacancies as a temporary tool, and delaying “nice‑to‑have” projects if necessary while preserving investments that become costlier if deferred (for example street overlays).

Council members also questioned the IT plan. Boscarino and council members said moving to a stand‑alone IT department and hiring a CIO is intended to centralize technology strategy, improve service delivery, and implement the city’s Information Technology Strategic Plan. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor asked whether added positions could be delayed if the economy worsened; Boscarino said hires were staged and could be paused.

The council received the report and found the action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act. By voice vote the council voted 5–0 to receive the study‑session presentation.

The presentation also described proposed operating support for the navigation center, funding to continue General Plan implementation and the Climate Action Plan, and an increase in the annual social services grant program from $100,000 to $200,000. Staff said detailed rate and financial plans for water and wastewater will return to council in the fall.

Boscarino closed by reiterating staff’s view that the budget is fiscally responsible—balancing conservative revenue estimates with planned investments and reserves to fund capital projects.