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Victorville’s FY2025–26 budget prioritizes Mohave Drive rehab, library and police facility; staff warn of five‑year projection gap
Summary
City finance officials say the newly effective FY2025–26 budget directs funds to road rehabilitation, a new library and a future police facility, adds 17 positions and a 3% COLA, and includes new development assessment funds — but a five‑year projection shows deficit spending that staff plan to monitor.
Victorville’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget has taken effect and centers on infrastructure and public‑facing projects while adding staff and new restricted funds, Deputy City Manager Janelle Davidson said in a city podcast episode.
"The budget is one of our most important policy documents for the city and it is a very big lift for the entire city," Davidson said. She described a roughly six‑month preparation process led by the finance department in which every department enters projections, capital requests and personnel needs for line‑by‑line review.
Key commitments in the adopted budget include continuing rehabilitation of Mohave Drive across segments from Highway 395 to the I‑15 freeway, and moving forward on a new city library supported in part by a $9,000,000 grant from the California State Library’s Building Forward program. Davidson said the new library project includes about 5,000 square feet of added children’s space and that the facility is scheduled to be complete near the end of the calendar year, with separate budget allocations for furniture, fixtures and technology.
The budget adds three new funds — bringing the city’s total to 87 funds — including one to consolidate wellness center funding and two tied to a newly formed citywide community facilities district. "Those special taxes will apply to new development," Davidson said, and she clarified assessments will appear on property owners’ first property tax bills, not on developers directly.
Personnel and compensation changes in the adopted budget include a net addition of 17 positions and a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment; Davidson said benefit enhancements were included to remain competitive in recruiting and retention.
Davidson described Victorville’s reserves as "healthy," noting the city targets a minimum 17% reserve level and currently exceeds it. At the same time, she said the city manager’s five‑year projection indicates the city is deficit spending and that staff will need to pursue revenue options and cost containment. "We are going to have to be pretty diligent about working hard to bring in more revenue and to cut costs where we can," she said.
Staff told listeners the budget is treated as a living document: after adoption, finance and department staff monitor estimates and bring mid‑year adjustments or one‑off items back to the council for approval as circumstances change. The council workshop cited by staff took place May 22, when the city manager presented the budget and council members provided feedback that staff incorporated prior to final adoption.
The city did not record formal votes or ordinance numbers in the episode. City officials said the budget will continue to be tracked and revised through the city’s established mid‑year and ad hoc review processes.
