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STA introduces balanced draft budget for fiscal year 2026–27, highlights CIP drop and policy flexibilities
Summary
STA staff presented a balanced draft fiscal year 2026–27 budget projecting a 3.6% sales tax revenue increase and a 26.8% drop in capital spending compared with the prior year; staff proposed resolutions to adjust impact‑fee accounting and allow CIP rollovers. Board asked that the full budget be included with future agenda packets.
Dustin Purinton, STA budget presenter, introduced the draft fiscal year 2026–27 budget and said the plan is balanced and will return in June for final adoption. "We are required to adopt the budget. It is balanced," Purinton told the board.
Purinton outlined the two headline assumptions driving the draft: a projected 3.6% increase in sales tax revenue and a 26.8% decrease in the capital improvement program compared with the prior year, which he said reflected that the prior year included several unusually large projects. "That is mostly caused by the prior year having significant budgeted capital improvement projects that were unique to last year," Purinton said.
Purinton also described a substantial reduction in the agency’s CalPERS unfunded accrued liability, noting it “started at $1.5 million in 22‑23” and is now close to $200,000 in the current budget cycle after board‑approved additional contributions. He said the budget includes a resolution to allow the authority to adjust the countywide transportation impact fee to reflect actual earnings and to roll forward unspent capital project balances year to year to give jurisdictions more spending flexibility.
The presentation emphasized three strategic planning goals the authority will use to guide the budget and work over the year: build public trust through financial forecasting and transparency, maintain ongoing outreach and education about Measure A spending, and align transportation priorities with available funding and grant leverage strategies. Purinton said STA does not deliver projects directly: "STA is funding, not implementing," and staff will coordinate with project partners and jurisdictions that deliver work.
Board discussion focused on materials and access. Director Dickinson asked that the full budget be included with the agenda materials so board members and the public do not have to navigate to a separate website to view the 130‑page document; Purinton agreed to include the full budget and consider providing a shorter transmittal summary and consolidated tables. There were no public comments on the draft. The board will consider a final adoption in June after receiving comments.
