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Hemet council moves $1.5 million to Measure U to protect public-safety staffing
Summary
At a May 12 budget workshop the Hemet City Council adopted a resolution moving $1.5 million to Measure U to buy down the city's public-safety self-insured retention, a step council leaders say preserves general-fund reserves and helps avoid layoffs amid rising liability costs.
The Hemet City Council on May 12 voted to transfer $1.5 million into Measure U to buy down the city's public-safety self-insured retention, a move council and public-safety leaders said is aimed at protecting police and fire staffing while the city addresses a growing structural deficit.
Administrative Services Director Tiffany told the council that the city faces flat revenues, sharply higher liability insurance premiums and litigation costs and an estimated $7.6 million structural deficit for fiscal 2026-27 after initial reductions. "If we don't find other resolutions, we are going to eat into that reserve very quickly," Tiffany said, warning that without action the general-fund reserve could drop from about 40% toward 27%.
Why it matters: The council shifted the one-time $1.5 million so the city can lower the immediate insurance exposure for public safety without tapping general reserves or initiating layoffs. Police and fire chiefs said the allocation will help preserve operations and morale.
Chief Mike Ariano said he supported moving the money: "If it's going to help my side of the house ... it's going to help me keep my officers out in the streets and my community service officer." The fire chief also said preserving positions reduces turnover risk and helps maintain recent gains in training and readiness.
The workshop laid out other budget pressures: a projected 15% increase in liability premiums, larger deductibles for claims, a recent jump in animal-control costs and a decline in permitting revenue tied to high interest rates. Staff told the council they had reduced vacancies, suspended some vehicle replacements and identified potential one-time revenue sources including sale of surplus property and trash-enclosure partnership funds.
What the council did: After discussion about service impacts and retention risks, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the administrative services director to establish supplemental appropriations in Measure U totaling $1.5 million to split the buy-down two-thirds to police and one-third to fire. The vote was 4-0 with Council Member Lodge absent.
Next steps: Staff will continue to refine final premium figures from brokers and follow up on FEMA and SAFER grant developments that could change the fiscal picture. Council members said they want regular updates on reconciliation work and a final adopted budget later in June.
