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Desert Hot Springs holds public hearing on proposed two‑year budget; hearing left open until June 17
Summary
City staff presented the proposed FY 2025–26 and FY 2026–27 two‑year budget, reporting roughly $30.8 million in revenues and $30.7 million in expenditures for FY25–26 and leaving the public hearing open for final adoption June 17. Council and staff discussed fund reclassifications, major capital projects and landscape maintenance district funding concerns.
City finance staff presented the City of Desert Hot Springs proposed two‑year budget and capital improvement program during a public hearing on June 3, 2025; the council left the hearing open and scheduled final consideration for June 17.
Finance presenter Jeffrey Buckheim (S12) summarized the high-level numbers: consolidated general fund revenues of “over $30,800,000” and expenditures of about $30,700,000 for FY 2025–26, and projected revenues of roughly $32,300,000 with expenditures near $32,200,000 for FY 2026–27. Buckheim described several fund reclassifications—moving health and wellness special revenue activity into the general fund and separating the public safety fund from the consolidated general fund—while noting that development‑fee revenue assumptions are contingent on continued development.
Key capital and program items in the two‑year plan include completion of Fire Station 98 (estimated to come into use in July 2025), continued Palm Drive improvements tied to the I‑10 interchange work, the Eagle Sports Park construction, pre‑construction funding for a police department annex and funding for the Furby Pool renovations and splash pad. Bond proceeds from the 2021 series were described as a funding source for the fire station and police annex preconstruction.
Council members pressed on several details. Mayor Pro Tem Gardner and others asked about smaller landscape maintenance and lighting districts that are currently underfunded; finance staff said a number of smaller LMDs are “underwater” and that staff will evaluate services, consider cost re‑estimates and may propose changes or nexus studies to rebalance maintenance funding without general fund gifts.
Public testimony was invited; no members of the public spoke on the budget on June 3. The council kept the public hearing open to allow further review and public input and plans to return to the item for final adoption on June 17, 2025.
Sources: staff budget presentation and council discussion, June 3, 2025 meeting record.
