Tiburon reviews FY27 budget and CIP; council directs more park funding and postpones Elephant Rock restoration

The Tiburon Town Council on March 25 reviewed a proposed FY27 operating budget and capital improvement program (CIP) and gave staff direction to revise the CIP after sustained public comment about parks and open-space improvements.

Staff's proposed FY27 budget included no net new full-time positions but several job reclassifications: the town clerk position was proposed as town clerk/assistant town manager; the public-works operations manager would assume IT coordination duties; one patrol officer would be reclassified as a sergeant; building-permit clerical positions would move from 35 to 40 hours per week. The draft budget proposed modest cost-of-living adjustments (3.5% TPOA, 3.0% SEIU, 3.25% unrepresented) and a small projected operating surplus (~$21,600).

Public Works presented a $7.9 million CIP that prioritizes pavement maintenance, drainage work and a set of park projects. Park-related CIP and operating items totaled roughly $3.275 million (CIP) plus about $1.3 million in operating costs for park maintenance and programs; notable projects included the grant-funded Blackies Pasture/Greenwood Beach restoration and a proposed Elephant Rock restoration that drew particular scrutiny.

Speakers from multiple neighborhoods, parents' groups and the Parks, Open Space & Trails (POST) volunteer group urged the council to move from years of study to implementation. "We have a park master plan and extensive community input—let's fund the amenities people asked for," one resident said. Others noted recent modest maintenance improvements and urged phasing in higher-priority projects such as accessible entries, picnic seating and playground upgrades.

Council members and staff discussed the town's reserve policy (25% operating reserve), long-term liabilities (OPEB trust currently >100% funded as of April 30, 2026; CalPERS unfunded liability ~ $11.5M net), and the limits of the current discretionary balance. Staff noted the budget includes a planned $1 million transfer into the parks development reserve; during deliberation councilors expressed support for increasing that transfer by an additional $1 million and for removing the Elephant Rock restoration from this year's CIP pending a focused review of safety, cost and timing.

Council direction and next steps: councilors asked staff to prepare a revised budget/CIP showing the Elephant Rock item removed from the FY27 program and the additional $1 million transfer into the parks development reserve (bringing planned park transfers higher during FY27). Staff will return with amended budget documents and a resolution for adoption at the next scheduled meeting.

Why it matters: the move signals a policy shift from long-range planning toward near-term investment in park amenities after extensive public engagement. At the same time, councilors flagged ongoing fiscal constraints: a tight operating surplus, rising pension and OPEB costs and the need to balance parks spending with street, drainage and building-maintenance obligations.