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Solvang council reviews FY 2025–26 draft budget, directs Measure U/E reallocations and conditional pool pledge
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Summary
Council reviewed the draft FY 2025–26 budget, heard public comment on Lot 72, and gave staff direction to reallocate $25,000 from Measure U (Theater Fest) to Measure E, increase fire safety funding to $50,000, and treat an aquatics pool pledge as conditional and restricted pending project progress; final adoption scheduled for June 23.
On June 9 the Solvang City Council reviewed the draft fiscal year 2025–26 budget and provided staff direction on Measure U and Measure E line items, following presentations from finance staff and public comment.
Staff presented a budget showing a projected surplus across all funds of $940,715 and a general fund surplus of $29,232. Major revenue estimates shown included transient-occupancy tax of $5,700,000, sales tax of $1,960,000 and property tax of $1,700,000. The water fund projection showed a surplus of approximately $367,828 and the wastewater fund a surplus of $132,187. The 10-year capital improvement plan for 2025–26 listed roughly $11.4 million in projects.
Council and the Measure U committee discussed allocations that had been recommended by the Measure U review. The council indicated its support for three principal changes recommended by the Measure U advisory group and the budget ad hoc: - Move Theater Fest funding ($25,000) from Measure U to Measure E so tourism event funding aligns with Measure E purposes. - Increase the Measure U fire-safety allocation from $25,000 to $50,000. - Make the $3xx,xxx (budget entry for the aquatics project) a conditional pledged allocation: the city will keep the funds restricted for the pool project but will release funds only upon project groundbreaking and subject to conditions that the project serve seniors, adults and youth; if the project does not make measurable progress or becomes nonviable by June 30, 2028, funds would be withdrawn.
Staff also reported the Measure U committee had recommended shifting some flexibility within street repair funding; council members discussed retaining specificity for the Alamo Pintado street repair item because staff said prior pavement-condition analysis prioritized that segment.
Public comment on the budget included a letter and on-the-record remarks opposing any formal parking improvements at Lot 72, a parcel near the Village Collection; several residents said Lot 72 is subject to lease restrictions and should remain open space. Council directed staff that any future Lot 72 work would require prior council review.
Staff will revise the draft to reflect council direction and return to council for final budget adoption at the June 23 meeting.
