Salinas finance committee reviews preliminary FY 2025–26 budget; staff seeks direction on reserves, staffing and Measure G

Salinas Finance Director Selena Anders presented the preliminary fiscal year 2025–26 budget to the Salinas Finance Committee on May 6, saying the city has a preliminary estimated general fund balance of $3,200,000 for the current year and is projecting a $3,400,000 balance at the close of FY 2025–26.

The presentation summarized revenue and expenditure forecasts, proposed staffing changes and a restructured budget document. Anders said projected revenues for FY 2025–26 are about $185,000,000 and expenditures about $185,400,000, driven in part by non‑discretionary costs and increases in salaries and benefits. "We're introducing a document, to complement the budget document. And so that's the budget in brief," Anders said, describing a shorter public-facing summary of the full budget.

Why it matters: the committee will use the preliminary figures to set priorities before the budget study session on May 27 and the public hearing and adoption on June 17. Committee members pressed staff for options on public safety staffing, street…