Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cathedral City staff present biannual general fund budget showing near-term deficit, reserves above policy
Summary
City staff presented a two-year general fund budget overview April 9 that projects a roughly $900,000 deficit in the first year, a surplus in year two, and a set of one-time "springs" (postponable items) to balance uncertainties in revenue forecasts.
City Manager Charles McClendon and Financial Services Director Kevin Biersack presented Cathedral City’s biannual general fund overview at the council’s April 9 study session, laying out revenue projections, staffing levels and a set of one-time or deferrable items staff called “springs.”
Biersack said the city currently projects recurring revenues and expenditures of about $141 million and a first‑year shortfall just under $900,000, with a projected surplus in the second year if the assumptions hold. He said staff are using historical data, private forecasting (HDL), state and county estimates, and internal analysis to produce the plan. “There’s quite a bit of uncertainty in the financial world out there right now,” McClendon said, and staff built the budget “based on the best information that’s available now.”
The presentation emphasized a conservative approach to revenue forecasting and higher-end budgeting for expenditures. Taxes make up roughly 70% of the city’s General Fund revenue; salaries and benefits account for about 57%–58% of expenditures, producing an overall “people‑heavy”…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
