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Riverbank council adopts FY 2024–25 budget, green-lights downtown uplighting
Summary
The Riverbank City Council adopted its FY 2024–25 operating budget and approved a downtown ‘uplighting only’ option to start revitalization, while staff will seek grants for additional pole-mounted lighting. The budget projects a $14.0M expenditure against $12.1M in revenues and includes planned studies and capital projects.
Riverbank — The City Council unanimously approved the city's FY 2024–25 operating budget Tuesday and directed staff to include a downtown uplighting pilot as part of the capital program. The vote was 5-0.
Assistant City Manager Tammy Alcantor told the council the proposed general-fund plan projects $12.1 million in revenues and $14.0 million in expenditures, leaving an estimated June 30, 2025 reserve of about $6.1 million (roughly 44 percent) and a structural deficit of about $850,000. Alcantor said the proposal includes personnel changes, capital items such as a Kubota tractor for parks, and an upcoming rate study for water, where rates have not been adjusted since 2019.
The council debated a separate downtown lighting proposal presented as part of the budget discussion. Staff outlined three options: (1) full scope—10 tree uplights plus 65 pole-mounted RGB units at an estimated $132,251.50; (2) reduced pole scope with 10 tree uplights and 28 pole units at about $101,223.30; and (3) uplighting only—10 tree-mounted LED uplights at an estimated $77,742.50. Concerns discussed included utility and maintenance costs, vandalism risk and alignment with the city's branding.
Councilmember [name withheld in transcript] moved to adopt the budget while including Option 3 (the 10 uplights) and directing staff to pursue grant funding for pole-mounted units; the motion passed 5-0. Following the vote, Councilmembers said they saw the uplighting as a modest, visible start to downtown revitalization and asked staff to prepare a grant-seeking plan and estimates for ongoing maintenance costs.
Alcantor said the budget also accounts for enterprise and special-revenue funds, including sewer, water and housing funds, and lists capital projects such as Well Nos. 11 and 13 designs and lift-station upgrades. She reported citywide beginning reserves around $55 million, projected revenues near $31 million and projected expenditures near $42 million across all funds, with an overall structural deficit noted in the presentation.
The council's adoption closed the budget portion of the evening; staff will return with implementation details, the recommended rate-study timeline and any grant opportunities for downtown lighting.
The council also approved consent items earlier in the meeting by 5-0. The council next meets July 23, 2024.
