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Sunset budget shows roughly $591,490 gap; COLA level still undecided
Summary
City staff presented a draft 2025 general fund budget that shows revenues of about $5.04 million against proposed expenditures of about $6.57 million, leaving an estimated shortfall of roughly $591,490. Council members discussed possible cost reductions and several COLA options but deferred decisions to the next work session.
Sunset City staff presented a draft 2025 general fund budget that shows total revenues of $5,042,405 and total proposed expenditures of $6,570,730, leaving an estimated gap of about $591,490.
The draft does not include cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). City staff ran sample COLA scenarios at council direction: a 5% COLA would add $86,284 to the budget and an 8% COLA would add $139,211. Staff said the state-level and federal COLA guidance differs this year (the state referenced 1.25% and the Social Security figure cited was 2.5%), and that uncertainty influenced the decision to delay a final COLA determination.
Council members and department heads reviewed line items across departments as part of a multi-session review process. Staff said some items could be carried forward, reallocated or reduced, and asked council members to return prepared to discuss specific cuts or priorities at the next meeting. Staff also noted that the draft budget presented did not yet include finalized insurance or vendor rates that could affect totals.
The council scheduled further budget review and asked department heads to be ready to discuss specific line items and options to close the shortfall. No formal budget adoption vote occurred at the workshop session.
Ending — The council left detailed choices, including any COLA decision and the size of any draw from reserves, for a subsequent meeting after members and department heads have had more time to review the draft figures.
