Vallejo council approves notice to amend budget to fund organizational assessment

The Vallejo City Council on Wednesday approved a notice to amend the fiscal year 2025–26 budget to allocate $151,000 from Monsanto funds to hire external auditors for an organizational benchmarking assessment, marking step one of a multi‑part effort that also includes a risk assessment and an internal controls review.

Assistant City Manager Conley told the council the three engagements had been costed at roughly $233,000 when combined but could be phased; staff recommended prioritizing the organizational and benchmarking assessment first. "The scope will identify departments where budgeted FTE levels exceed peer benchmarks," Conley said, noting the work would analyze staffing ratios and expenditures by function and take about three to four months to complete.

The decision followed a spirited exchange about whether the city manager should produce an internal assessment instead of contracting outside. "I am not going to vote yes on this particular audit project," said Council Member Ladder Shoe, arguing the city manager "should have the responsibility to begin the work" without outside contractors. Mayor Soarscribe and other supporters said a third‑party review would provide an independent perspective and speed the process. "This work just needs to get done ASAP," the mayor said, urging the council to move forward despite past delays.

Council members first voted separately on each scope: the risk assessment and internal control review passed unanimously; the organizational assessment and benchmarking also passed but with recorded opposition. The final vote on the funding source — a notice to amend the budget to allocate $151,000 from Monsanto funds — carried with two members recorded as opposed.

The consultant scope presented by staff is intended to compare Vallejo to peer cities on staffing and spending, identify functions with materially higher costs than peers, and flag areas where resources do not align with observable service volume. Conley told the council staff would add workload and volume measures to the benchmarking approach after members asked that comparisons account for differences in service demand.

Council members asked staff to return with detailed cost breakdowns and to consider separate votes for scope and funding when the step‑2 materials come back. The vote authorizes staff to give public notice of intent to amend the budget; a subsequent vote will finalize the budget amendment and contract terms.

What happens next: staff will refine the scopes and return to the council with precise contract amounts and a proposed schedule for the contracted work. The engagements are expected to produce recommendations staff and council can use in midyear and next‑year budget planning.