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Preliminary budget recap projects modest operating surplus; staff to return with line‑item budget
Summary
Staff presented a mid‑year budget recap showing projected revenues near $2.9 million this year and a preliminary operating surplus of about $95,000 for the next fiscal year; council voted to receive and file the report and staff will produce a line‑item budget for April workshop and June adoption.
City staff presented a preliminary budget recap and mid‑year revenue update, telling the Rolling Hills Estates City Council that current‑year revenue projections were close to $2.9 million and that next year’s status‑quo projection was roughly $2.8–2.9 million depending on property‑tax and building‑permit trends.
Robert (city staff) told the council he used conservative assumptions for projections: a 3% baseline property‑tax growth rate for the coming year; a $500,000 conservative budget entry for building and permit revenue (staff noted actual receipts through November would support about $600,000); and miscellaneous revenue of roughly $120,000 that includes about $100,000 from the Rolling Hills Community Association as a partial contribution to a tennis‑court capital project.
On the expenditure side, staff proposed a three‑and‑a‑half percent cost‑of‑living adjustment for personnel, added a full‑time code‑compliance officer/planning technician and eliminated a part‑time bookkeeper/admin position and a contract line for code enforcement—netting only small personnel cost changes. Staff also reported an anticipated 2.3% increase to the sheriff’s contract (about $13,000) and noted potential changes if the city moves to a different provider for building and planning services.
Combining conservative revenue and expenditure assumptions, staff estimated an operating surplus of approximately $95,000 on a preliminary basis. Robert said staff will continue to monitor revenues and refine estimates and will present a more detailed line‑item budget in April and seek final adoption in June.
A council member moved to receive and file the preliminary report; the council approved the motion on an oral vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.
Next steps: staff will issue public notice regarding proposed refuse‑rate adjustments, prepare a detailed line‑item budget for the April workshop, and return with recommended adjustments for possible adoption in early or late June.
