City staff present $527.4 million FY2027 budget; council and public press for more transparency and consultant oversight

City finance staff on Wednesday presented a recommended FY2027 citywide budget of $527,400,000 and outlined targeted additions for capital projects and programs, while council members and public commenters asked for clearer reporting on one‑time resources, consultant spending and departmental variances.

"We have a recommended budget tonight, dollars 527,400,000," Greg Morley, the city’s chief financial officer, told the Fiscal Advisory Board as he walked members through changes since the April proposal, including money added for a cultural arts position, $500,000 for a storm‑drain master plan, $840,000 to refurbish tennis courts at Camino Real and a $5,000,000 sewer line replacement on Monmouth Way funded from the Wastewater Capital Fund. Morley also said the Water Capital Fund includes $3,700,000 in land acquisition associated with the Ventura Water PURE advanced water purification plan.

The proposed general fund is about $153.8 million, Morley said, adding that roughly 75% of general fund resources are tax supported and about 65% of general fund spending is salaries and benefits. CIP (capital improvement program) money totals roughly $201.7 million, with water and wastewater projects the largest shares.

Board members pressed staff on revenue durability and accounting assumptions. One member asked how much of the recommended budget relies on one‑time money; Morley said only a single transfer (about $1.4 million) to support a downtown library renovation is being funded with one‑time resources and that the remainder of the recommendation is based on ongoing revenue. He also flagged a large public‑liability payment in FY2024 as the primary driver of a spike in certain department totals for FY2025, calling details of that claim confidential.

Public commenters urged sharper fiscal controls and greater transparency in the budget packet. "If you're looking at this budget as being presented, you're going into a deficit," resident George Amendolfo told the board, urging council members to act as the financial 'Iceman' overseeing spending decisions. Other speakers, including business and longtime residents, criticized the size of the supplemental packet and said two days was insufficient time to vet 166 pages of material.

The meeting included a detailed discussion of the city’s inclusionary housing in‑lieu fee. A housing staff member said the in‑lieu fund currently has no cash on hand but that staff expect roughly $500,000 from projects in the pipeline over the next year; the in‑lieu adjustment was calculated by consultants Tyson Morrison Associates at about a 1.3% change for ownership projects and a nominal increase for rental units. Staff emphasized collected fees go into a separate account earmarked for affordable housing projects.

Speakers also pressed the city on consultant use and whether more work could be done in‑house. A resident raised concerns about a Ventura Water consultant report and the subcontracting chain that produced it, questioning the underlying assumptions the board relied on for water planning. Board members and staff agreed to explore ways to report consultant spending by department and to consider department‑level metrics to identify programs where in‑house capacity could reduce outsourcing costs.

Procedurally, the FAB approved minutes from the April 23, 2026 special meeting (motion moved by Councilmember Duran; seconded by Councilmember Mulvaney), with roll‑call votes recorded as 'yes' by Councilmember Duran, Vice Chair Lambone and Chair Halter. No other formal actions were taken at the workshop; staff said they expect to present the budget to the full City Council at its next public hearing, where additional public comment and council direction will be possible.

Next steps: staff said they will present the recommended budget at Tuesday’s full City Council meeting and that the city can produce more frequent end‑of‑month P&L summaries if the council requests them. The FAB discussed future agenda items, including deeper dives on consultant spending and departmental cost trends, before adjourning.