Lodi city manager urges use of pension reserve, one‑time infusions and lobbyist funding to shore up fiscal health
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
At a Jan. 28 special meeting, Lodi staff reviewed the council’s 2023 strategic priorities and recommended using the city’s pension stabilization reserve and a one‑time $8 million infusion for vehicle and facility maintenance, while advising council to consider midyear funding for a state/federal lobbyist.
Interim City Manager James presented an update on the council’s fiscal‑health priority, telling the City Council that staff will return a resolution updating milestone language after council direction.
James said taxes remain the city’s largest revenue source, accounting for "over 60%" of general fund revenue and cited roughly $56,000,000 in annual tax receipts. He noted the city also receives about $7,000,000 a year as a payment‑in‑lieu from the city‑owned electric utility and about $6,000,000 in lease revenue from city land and facilities.
To address deferred maintenance and aging vehicles, staff proposed a one‑time infusion of $8,000,000 (about $5M for vehicle replacement and $3M for facility maintenance) to rebuild reserves and suggested doubling ongoing facility maintenance funding to more realistic levels. James also recommended using the pension stabilization reserve—he said assets have grown to "over $31,000,000"—to reduce the fiscal impact of rising pension costs.
Councilmembers asked staff for precise figures and requested that a "budget‑in‑brief" summary, and public budgeting tools, be reintroduced as communication tools. Janelle (Finance staff) told council the ClearGov tool and monthly/quarterly reporting will continue and staff will bring midyear figures to the Feb. 4 meeting.
Members also discussed hiring a lobbyist to pursue state and federal grant and budget opportunities to help offset unfunded mandates and support priorities. James said staff will present proposed contract costs and a recommended appropriation at the Feb. 4 midyear meeting and that there appears to be council consensus to fund an initial package at midyear, with full consideration in FY26/27 budgeting.
What’s next: staff committed to provide the detailed financial breakdowns at the midyear meeting, to bring a parks master plan funding recommendation (see separate article) and to return with final milestone wording for council adoption.