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Measure E oversight committee is told revenues are tracking ‘just ahead of pace’ amid requests for clearer breakdowns
Summary
City finance staff told the Measure E oversight committee that FY25‑26 Measure E revenue is projected at $17.2 million and that receipts to date place the city slightly ahead of pace; committee members asked for department-level breakdowns, personnel cost detail and prior-year comparisons.
Finance staff presented an unaudited update on Salinas’ Measure E on Jan. 15, telling the Measure E oversight committee that the half-cent transaction and use tax is projected to generate $17,200,000 for fiscal year 2025–26 and that timing of state receipts has delayed some collections.
"We have received $6,200,000, or 36% in transaction and use tax revenue for the months of July through October 2025," finance management analyst Yesenia Nunez said, and added, "Therefore, the city is tracking just ahead of pace." She also reported a total revenue figure of $18,500,000 and a remaining budget figure of $12,200,000 as presented on staff slides.
The committee reviewed reported expenditures and staffing funded by Measure E. Staff said $9,000,000 had been encumbered or spent as of the reporting date, leaving about $11,700,000 of departmental budgets unspent against a total departmental expenditure budget of $20,700,000. Measure E-funded positions total about 90.5 full‑time equivalents, with the library (39.5 FTE), police (31 FTE) and recreation (17 FTE) among the largest recipients.
Committee members asked for clearer reconciliation of several figures shown in the packet (including $9.3 million, $18.5 million and $20.7 million) and requested prior-year comparisons and an average-salary calculation for the Measure E‑funded positions. Nunez said prior-year comparisons were not in the packet but that staff could provide that detail and could include a line showing carryover in future reports. She also said staff could provide a department-level breakout of expenditures (page 4 of the financial report) and pull a personnel-cost report promptly.
The presentation included a summary of nondepartmental spending: roughly $3,200,000 (24%) of nondepartmental Measure E funds had been encumbered or expended as of Dec. 31, 2025. Staff described line items including capital projects, El Gavilan debt service, general liability and property insurance, animal services and emergency dispatch (911).
Procedural business at the meeting included a consent vote to approve the minutes of Oct. 16, 2025; the motion, moved by Committee member Valenzuela and seconded by Committee member Ish, passed with votes recorded as 'yes' from Alvarado, Frigozo, Ish, Valenzuela and Vice Chair Hobby.
Committee members asked staff to produce a clearer, department-by-department accounting and to add a carryover line so the group can track how reserves are spent during the fiscal year. Staff agreed to provide the requested breakdowns and additional historical data ahead of follow-up meetings. The committee confirmed its next meeting for April 16, 2026.
