Loma Linda council adopts midyear budget adjustments amid revenue shortfalls and higher fire overtime

City staff presented the Loma Linda midyear budget review for fiscal year 2024–25, outlining modest revenue shifts and several expenditure increases and asking the council to approve changes to revenue and appropriations.

Sonia (staff presenter) summarized the general fund and enterprise fund adjustments: projected decreases in property tax ($33,800) and sales tax ($82,900), offset in part by higher license/permit revenue and reimbursements (notably $943,500 in projected mutual‑aid reimbursements for fire incidents). Major expenditure increases included fire overtime and strike‑team costs (the packet cited $1,485,000 in overtime) and public‑works and capital requests; the total requested expenditure increases across funds were about $2,884,000 against a revenue change of approximately $5,441,400.

Councilmembers asked for clarification on reimbursements for strike teams and on the timing and impact of salary survey results. Staff said some overtime costs are expected to be reimbursed but not all; the overtime line primarily covers backfill to maintain coverage when personnel are injured or deployed, not the injured worker’s insurance costs. The council discussed a previously proposed sales‑tax increase and revenue‑generation work by a standing committee.

After discussion, the council moved and seconded staff’s recommendation and voted to approve the midyear adjustments; the clerk recorded the motion as carried unanimously. Councilmembers stressed the need for continued revenue planning and monitoring as future years could be more constrained.