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San Juan Capistrano council reviews FY25–26 budget, eyes $5 million surplus for roads and projects
Summary
City staff presented a balanced FY25–26 proposed operating budget with $43.3M in revenues, $40.0M in expenditures and a projected $3.3M surplus (net $2.6M available after planned allocations). Council endorsed staff direction and a plan to allocate up to $3.5M to arterial streets and up to $20,000 from the historic depiction fund for SJC 250 fee waivers; a substitute motion to shift $80,000 to a traffic study failed 2–3.
City Manager Ben Siegel and Chief Financial Officer Ken Nalimam told the San Juan Capistrano City Council on May 20 that the city’s proposed FY25–26 operating budget is balanced and that the council will be asked to adopt a final budget at its June 17 meeting. The proposed general fund shows $43.3 million in operating revenues and $40.0 million in operating expenditures, producing a projected surplus before reserve allocations of about $3.3 million.
Nalimam said approximately $700,000 of the surplus is already scheduled for arterial streets, leaving an estimated $2.6 million available to add to available fund balance. Combined with $2.4 million in higher-than-expected audited revenues from FY23–24, staff reported roughly $5 million above the council’s $20 million reserve target. "We continue to have a balanced budget and a very strong financial position," Nalimam said.
Why it matters: staff recommended the council adopt a 50% reserve policy (50% of the general fund operating budget, roughly $20 million) because San Juan Capistrano relies more heavily on sales tax than other nearby cities and…
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