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Budget office projects slight surplus, board fund at about 9.3 months reserve
Summary
DCA budget staff told the board it projects revenues of $3,706,000 and expenditures of $3,644,000 for 2025–26, leaving a projected fund balance of about $3,135,000 (roughly 9.3 months in reserve); members pressed for clearer multi‑year expenditure assumptions and explanations of 'mock' fund condition scenarios.
The Department of Consumer Affairs budget office presented the California State Board of Optometry's fund condition and monthly projections, saying the board began 2024–25 with a $2,931,000 balance and projects revenue of $3,706,000 for the current fiscal year.
"The board began 2024–25 with a balance of $2,931,000, and the board collected $3,345,000 in revenues," budget analyst Emily Molino summarized during her presentation of attachments in the board packet. Molino said the board's beginning base budget was $3,887,000 and staff project spending of a little over $3,300,000, creating a reversion percentage of 13.96% in the presented materials.
Budget staff explained the difference between the official fund condition (which assumes full expenditure of appropriations) and a 'mock' fund condition that applies a higher, 5% growth rate to prior‑year actuals to model more realistic spending. They identified one‑time increases this year — a delayed occupational analysis (~$70,000) and a website update (~$30,000–$40,000) — as drivers of near‑term expenditure increases.
Board members pressed for more granular analysis of expenditure growth rates and asked staff to develop metrics that clarify which variances are meaningful; staff agreed to return with additional context. The budget office will continue monthly reporting on revenue and expenditures.
