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First 5 Sacramento adopts $21.84 million budget, releases $3 million from reserves
Summary
At its April 7 meeting the First 5 Sacramento Commission approved a $21,840,000 operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and a 10-year financial plan, authorizing a roughly $3 million draw on reserves to balance the plan amid declining Proposition 10 revenue projections.
The First 5 Sacramento Commission on April 7 approved its recommended operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26, authorizing $21,840,000 in appropriations and a $3,000,000 release from reserves to balance the plan.
The budget approved by a 6–0 roll call funds administration, evaluation and program activities across the county. Kristen Scheiber, chief of administration for First 5 Sacramento, told commissioners the request includes $1,290,000 for administration (5.9 percent), $600,000 for evaluation (2.7 percent) and $19,950,000 for program expenditures (91.4 percent). The base strategic plan allocations from Proposition 10 total $15,940,000; confirmed leveraged funding (including CalWORKs and ARPA-funded programs) adds roughly $5,900,000, producing total appropriations of $21,840,000.
Commissioner Mook moved to accept the budget as presented; Commissioner Wesley seconded. Roll call votes recorded “aye” from Commissioner Wesley, Commissioner Fernandez de Garcia, Commissioner Evans, Commissioner Kasirye, Commissioner Kattari and Commissioner Mook. The motion passed.
The plan relies on reserves to balance the fiscal year: an opening reserve balance of about $14,800,000 and a carryforward fund balance of approximately $1,950,000. To balance projected revenues and appropriations, staff proposed a $3,000,000 release from reserves, leaving an estimated ending reserve balance of $11,800,000. Scheiber noted county revenue projections from the California Department of Finance indicate modest declines in Proposition 10 receipts; staff also noted a projected average decrease of about 22.4 percent for the next strategic-plan period.
Commissioners and staff discussed the budget's assumptions. Staff reported the commission expects Prop 10 and other revenues to total about $16,800,000 in FY25–26, and that the 10-year plan conservatively does not assume additional leveraged funding beyond the coming fiscal year. The financial planning committee memo, presented earlier on March 27, noted a current vacancy rate of about 14.3 percent and recommended reclassifying two program planner positions to a human services manager and a human services program specialist; the Board of Supervisors approved that SRA on March 11.
The budget presentation also flagged a new fee from Metro Cable 14, which for the first time will charge to record and broadcast meetings starting July 1; staff estimated an average cost of roughly $500 per meeting (about $3,500 annually) to be included in next year’s budget.
Commissioner Mook praised staff work on the plan and noted modest improvement in projected declines, saying, "There is some great news embedded within that — the cliff continues to get less steep." Staff and commissioners said they will continue closer planning for the 2027 strategic-plan funding cycle and bring more detailed spending proposals for administration, evaluation and program allocations at future meetings.
Votes at a glance • Item 1 — Approval of February 2025 draft action summary: motion to approve passed (vote details not specified in the record). • Item 8 — Approval of FY2025–26 recommended budget and 10-year financial plan: motion carried 6–0 (Wesley, Fernandez de Garcia, Evans, Kasirye, Kattari, Mook — aye).
