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Measure J revenues show early gains; staff warns of project-driven deficit
Summary
City staff reported Measure J sales-tax receipts are about $8.0 million year-to-date (a 6% increase) and total revenue of about $8.9 million, but staff said heavy project spending means the fund could run a deficit this fiscal year and that planned debt issuance will reimburse Measure J for design cashflows.
City finance staff told the Measure J Oversight Commission that sales-tax receipts tied to Measure J are up about 6% year-to-date and that the fund is supporting a range of community projects and deferred-maintenance work, even as project spending creates a near-term gap.
"Our year to date number... is a little over 8,000,000. That's a 6% increase over the prior year," Chris said during the Feb. 19 meeting. Staff reported total Measure J-related revenue of about $8.9 million to date and said investment interest income is performing better than conservative estimates.
On the expense side, staff outlined ongoing project commitments including downtown revitalization debt service, vehicle purchases, and community-initiated grants. Staff noted that total expenses were about $10.3 million to date and said the commission is currently "running a deficit of 1 0.4," which staff attributed to accelerated capital and project spending that will later be reimbursed when planned debt proceeds arrive.
Staff pointed to several active community projects: Demuth Park improvements (a consolidated program budgeted at about $8.2 million across multiple funding sources), the temporary and permanent pickleball-court work, and first payments to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Mizell Center. Staff said many grantees have executed grant agreements and that some project bids required updating to reflect current costs.
On audits, staff said the Measure J agreed-upon-procedures audit concluded in December 2025 with a clean opinion and that the commission would receive a copy of the audit report next week. The audit was presented to the commission as a receiving file.
Staff said they will return with more detailed, project-level updates in coming months and noted that certain design costs (for example, $3 million of budgeted design work for Fire Station 1 and 3) were shown on the Measure J pages presented to the commission.
