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Portola Valley council hears budget shortfall, directs staff to model 2.5% COLA and modest merit options
Summary
Council members were presented with the proposed FY26–27 expenditure budget and warned of an approximate $700,000 structural deficit driven largely by an increase in the sheriff contract; staff were asked to model a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment and modest merit scenarios for further review.
Portola Valley Town Council received a detailed review of the proposed FY26–27 expenditure budget and gave staff direction to model specific cost scenarios after a presentation that identified a roughly $700,000 structural deficit.
Tony, the staff presenter, told the council the town faces a structural deficit “about $700,000,” driven in large part by increases in contracted public‑safety costs and baseline pension and medical expenses. He said the sheriff’s contract will increase total costs and that the impact to the town’s general fund is approximately $508,000 for FY26–27. Tony also presented personnel cost options: a 3% COLA would add about $63,000; a 2% COLA would add about $42,000; and a 4% COLA about $84,000. He reported the town’s unfunded accrued pension liability at roughly $1,970,000 and the town’s amortized UAL payments rising year…
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