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Norwalk council adopts midyear budget adjustments, adds housing liaison to salary schedule
Summary
City council approved two midyear budget resolutions that adjust revenue and spending projections for fiscal 2024–25, add a housing liaison position funded through a Gateway Cities COG grant, and leave the city slightly above its 20% general fund reserve policy.
The Norwalk City Council on Tuesday adopted two midyear budget resolutions that revise revenue and appropriations for fiscal year 2024–25 and amend the city salary schedule to add a housing liaison position.
Finance Director Jana Stewart told the council the city’s audited beginning fund balance was $21.8 million — about $800,000 lower than the figure staff used when preparing the current-year budget. Stewart said sales tax and utility-user-tax receipts trailed prior expectations (sales tax by about $700,000 and UUT by about $300,000), while planning and other departmental fees have performed better than expected.
“Community development plan-check fees are up roughly $835,000, though only about $292,000 of that is net to the city after consultant pass-through costs,” Stewart said. She also said staff is proposing a $700,000 transfer from the Highway Users Tax fund to offset street-maintenance costs.
City Manager Jesus Gomez and Stewart recommended limited midyear increases in personnel and operating budgets while preserving the city’s reserve policy. The net increase to general fund appropriations is about $400,000, including roughly $330,000 for personnel and $1.4 million for operating, partially offset by transfers and savings. Stewart said the revised plan would leave an estimated general fund balance of about $15.3 million at year end, roughly $112,000 above the city’s 20% policy threshold.
The council also adopted an amendment to the salary schedule to add one full-time housing liaison position funded through a Gateway Cities COG agreement. Stewart said the position is budgeted at about $79,000 annually and will be used to coordinate housing-related grants and casework.
Council members commended the finance team for the comprehensive midyear review; Stewart noted the city’s budget document had received recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for transparency and alignment with strategic goals.
A motion to adopt Resolutions 25-07 and 25-08 passed on a roll‑call vote: Councilmembers Ramirez, Rios, Vice Mayor Jennifer Perez and Mayor Ayala voted aye. No dissenting votes were recorded.
Looking ahead, Stewart told the council staff will distribute budget worksheets to departments and expects to present the proposed FY 2025–26 budget after Memorial Day with adoption anticipated by June 30.
The council asked staff to return with more detail on department-level personnel requests and to explore options — such as leasing or external monitoring — for proposed equipment purchases in the equipment replacement fund.
