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National City staff warn reserves will shrink without new revenue; council weighs taxes, land sales and fees
Summary
City leaders presented a midyear budget briefing projecting multi-year deficits and rising pension costs, and councilmembers discussed vacant-property taxes, higher TOT rates, revising franchise fees and city-led land development as options to close gaps while protecting core services.
National City officials told the City Council a combination of slower revenues and rising liabilities has pushed the city toward a multi-year shortfall that will require new revenue or spending changes.
"We basically have $151,000,000 in expenditures and about $142,000,000 in revenues," City Manager Scott Fultz said during the staff briefing, framing the situation as a long-term structural challenge rather than a single-year gap. Finance staff highlighted several cost drivers, including a growing CalPERS unfunded actuarial liability (UAL) and higher insurance premiums.
Bruce, the finance director, told the council that some revenue categories are on track but others pose risk: "So far for this year, we've only collected 58%…
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