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Soledad staff present balanced $48.7M budget but warn reserves are tight
Summary
City staff presented a balanced $48.7 million operating budget and five‑year capital plan June 12, 2024, but warned slowing sales tax, rising costs and a steep Cal Fire contract increase will leave little discretionary money and could require new local revenue to sustain services.
City of Soledad staff presented a balanced FY2024–25 operating budget of $48,700,000 at a June 12 special budget workshop, while urging council members to prepare for tightening finances in the coming years.
Finance staffer Mike Howard told the council the document being proposed for adoption next week reflects a status‑quo operating posture but flagged several structural pressures: a consultant forecast of a modest sales‑tax downturn for the next two fiscal years, rising staffing and capital costs, and an impending jump in the city’s Cal Fire contract. “Our total operating budget this year is $48,700,000,” Howard said during the presentation. He also cautioned that the budget as presented leaves little room to add to reserves: “We are spending every dollar.”
Why it matters: sales tax makes up more than 30% of Soledad’s revenue, so…
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