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County projects a positive general-fund variance in second-quarter budget report
Summary
The County Executive Office reported a second-quarter FY2024-25 status showing a projected ~$11.9 million general-fund surplus driven by higher property taxes and transient-occupancy tax revenue, while specific departments (parks, sheriff) showed reportable variances.
County staff presented the second-quarter fiscal-year 2024-25 budget status report on March 4 and told the Board the general fund is projected to end the year with an approximately $11.9 million positive variance.
Finance staff said higher-than-budgeted property tax growth and a recent transient-occupancy-tax rate increase (to 14% in January) drove improved revenue projections. Cannabis tax revenues are projected to fall short by roughly $700,000 (projected $5.4M vs. $6.1M budget) and will be covered by fund balance held for cannabis programs.
Several departments showed reportable variances. The Parks Division projects a negative variance (roughly $570,000) tied to delayed openings (Goleta Beach restaurant) and an RV-improvement project delay; the Sheriff—s Office projects an overtime-driven negative variance owing to staffing transitions and jail medical costs and new contract adjustments. The report noted vacancies remain elevated (about 11% of funded positions), and staff said salary-savings from vacancies are contributing to the overall general-fund projection.
The board received and filed the report on staff recommendation. Supervisors reiterated a need to examine vacancy strategies and continue prudent budgeting.
Staff will incorporate these updated projections into the preliminary FY2025-26 budget baseline to be discussed in upcoming outreach and budget workshops.
