Rohnert Park council hears budget showing $52.6M in revenue, $59.3M in proposed spending; city aims for cuts and frozen positions

City Manager Marcela Pietra and Finance Director Betsy Host presented the draft FY2026–27 general‑fund budget to the Rohnert Park City Council on April 14, outlining a plan that projects $52.6 million in revenues and $59.3 million in proposed expenditures.

"We are dipping into reserves, which is not a way to balance and not a way to operate," City Manager Marcela Pietra said during the presentation, warning the council that the draft relies in part on one‑time monies and that longer‑term solutions are needed.

Host summarized the headline numbers: property tax projections of about $13.8 million, basic sales and use tax at roughly $15.5–15.7 million, transient‑occupancy tax around $4.2 million and total general‑fund revenues the city used to frame the recommendation: "This year, we are anticipating $52,600,000 as part of the budget preparation," she said.

The proposed spending includes roughly $26.7 million for public safety and $9.2 million for development services; overall general‑fund expenditures in the draft total about $59.3 million. Host said department requests totaled about $8.9 million this cycle; council and staff funded about $4.9 million of…