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Hayward finance staff warn of growing general-fund shortfall; Measure C/K1 funding falls far short of capital list
Summary
Interim finance staff told the council April 15 that Hayward is projecting a structural general fund shortfall and will need multi-year corrective steps. Separately, Measure C (extended by Measure K1) revenue and longstanding capital needs leave a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar gap for projects the council has identified as priorities.
Interim Finance Director Shree Fatman told the City Council on April 15 that Hayward’s general fund faces an estimated structural shortfall and that corrective action will take years.
Fatman summarized current estimates: general-fund revenue for FY 2025–26 is projected at about $218 million while projected general-fund expenses total roughly $230 million, producing a projected deficit that staff currently estimate could be on the order of $12 million next year. “This is not a balanced budget,” Fatman told the council. “This is not something that’s not solvable. It just will take time and take some measured and thoughtful approaches to get there.”
Why it matters: roughly 80% of the city budget is personnel costs, and recent salary and benefits commitments are driving increased baseline expenses. Fatman recommended program-based…
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