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Stockton adopts FY 2025–26 budget amid debate over reserves and prevention funding
Summary
The Stockton City Council adopted the FY 2025–26 budget and CIP (citywide expenditures ~$982M) by unanimous vote after study sessions and amendments. Council approved OVP positions in the budget but directed staff to hold hiring until grant/revenue outcomes are known and reallocated $150,000 to cover clerk/attorney requests.
The Stockton City Council adopted the fiscal year 2025–26 annual budget, the five‑year capital improvement plan and the fee schedule on June 24 after a public hearing and extended debate.
Interim Budget Officer Brandon Sapolvoda presented key figures: the proposed citywide expenditure budget is approximately $982 million with total citywide revenues of about $936 million (some funds use transfers and drawdowns of fund balance), and the general fund expenditure budget is roughly $328.2 million. Police accounts for the largest single portion of the general fund at about $184 million (55%); fire is approximately $70 million (21%). Sapolvoda noted rising salary, benefits and materials costs and that the budget does not yet include any pending collective‑bargaining outcomes.
During the study sessions council requested several additions and reallocations: two full‑time positions and five part‑time positions for the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) were included along with $34,970 for firefighter recruitment/diversity efforts and additional appropriations for clerk and city attorney offices following audit‑committee requests. Staff also proposed reallocating $150,000 from certain non‑departmental special services to cover clerk and city attorney requests and to preserve a portion for council discretionary funds.
After extended questioning about reserves, long‑term obligations, and reliance on potential grant awards, council approved the budget with specific direction: the budget as adopted includes the OVP positions and other amendments, but council instructed staff to hold off filling the OVP positions until the outcomes of the CalVIP grant application and year‑end revenue rollovers are known. This compromise was offered to reduce the risk of committing ongoing general‑fund wages before grant outcomes and year‑end fiscal results were clear. The motion carried unanimously 7–0.
Notable formal actions: the council also reported and approved a $150,000 settlement in Francisco Toronas v. City of Stockton (reported earlier in the meeting) and approved a pair of land right‑of‑way abandonments requested by Waste Management.
Next steps: staff will monitor grant outcomes (CalVIP decision window noted by public‑service applicants as October/January for different grants), report year‑end rollover figures, and return with any required implementation steps for newly budgeted positions.
