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LAFCO adopts preliminary $210,000 budget with larger allocation for MSRs, including cemetery reviews
Summary
LAFCO adopted a $210,000 preliminary FY 2026–27 budget driven by a 42% increase tied to municipal service reviews (MSRs). The commission budgeted about $121,000 toward MSRs for reclamation and cemetery districts and directed staff to refine consultant costs for the May meeting.
The Local Agency Formation Commission adopted a preliminary budget of $210,000 for fiscal year 2026–27, driven by increased spending on municipal service reviews, the commission heard.
Executive Officer Mr. Libby told commissioners the proposed total represents roughly a 42% increase over the current fiscal year and stems mainly from MSRs and sphere-of-influence updates. "We're proposing $121,000 be budgeted for reclamation and cemetery districts," he said, adding that the consultant RSG supplied initial quotes and anticipated possible economies of scale to reduce the combined estimate.
Mr. Libby said the MSR allocation was presented as two line items—about $59,000 for cemetery districts and about $61,000 for reclamation districts—and that staff would refine those figures with the consultant before the commission's May meeting. He also reported an anticipated undesignated fund balance of $108,000 if the proposal is approved as presented.
On funding, Mr. Libby explained the commission's budget is paid under the statute by cities, counties and independent districts. He stated that cities pay one-third of the budget share, with Yuba City bearing a large portion of the cities' share, Sutter County pays one-third, and independent districts cover the remaining portion under the statutory formula. He recommended the commission conduct the public hearing and adopt a resolution approving the preliminary budget.
Commissioners pressed staff on the statutory basis and timing for MSRs. Mr. Libby said LAFCO law generally calls for updating MSRs every five years and noted that reclamation districts were last updated in 2011 and cemetery districts in 2015. Commissioner Stevens described local cemetery capacity concerns in his district—saying some cemeteries have "maybe 15 to 20 spots left"—and urged careful consideration of cemetery districts' needs when scheduling the MSRs.
The commission opened the public hearing on the budget, received no public comment, and then voted unanimously to adopt the preliminary FY 2026–27 budget as presented. Staff will refine consultant cost estimates and return with updated figures at the May meeting.
