San Leandro Council splits $915,936 year-end surplus: half to pension trust, remainder to roads and CDBG reserve

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — The San Leandro City Council voted unanimously on March 17 to appropriate the city's fiscal year 2023-24 unallocated surplus of $915,936, splitting the funds between the pension trust and local priorities.

Mayor Juan Gonzales moved the amended allocation and said, "I would move that we spent half the money as recommended by staff for the pension trust, and we spend 30% of the money on roads and 20% of the money be set aside" for potential community services shortfalls. The motion passed 7-0.

Why it matters: Council members and speakers said they wanted to both address long-term obligations and preserve one-time money for pressing capital needs and nonprofit services if federal funding drops. Staff told the council one half of the surplus is already covered by city policy that directs money to an unfunded pension trust; the council's action confirmed that and identified a specific distribution for the remainder.

Details of the appropriation: The council recorded the unallocated fund balance at $915,936. Under the…