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Vista council adopts $187.4 million mid‑cycle operating budget update; Wave Water Park moved into general fund
Summary
The council unanimously approved a mid‑cycle FY26‑27 budget update totaling $187.4 million (an $895,000 increase), consolidating Wave Water Park into the general fund and moving fire apparatus replacement funding into the fleet replacement fund.
The Vista City Council on May 28 unanimously adopted a mid‑cycle update to the FY26‑27 operating budget that increases the city’s all‑funds total to $187.4 million, an $895,000 adjustment from the adopted two‑year budget.
Budget Manager Sarah Taylor told the council: "The proposed amended fiscal year 26 27 operating budget for all funds totals 187,400,000 and that's an increase of 895,000 over the original adopted budget." The mid‑cycle update consolidates Wave Water Park operations into the general fund to reflect ongoing subsidy and operational support and transfers funding for fire apparatus and specialized equipment replacement into the fleet replacement internal service fund to better align multiyear replacement schedules.
Taylor said general fund revenues are projected to increase by just over $1,000,000 compared with the adopted budget, bringing general fund revenue estimates to about $131.9 million; the general fund proposed expenditures total roughly $131.8 million. The update reflects modest changes across development permits, ambulance billing, recreation fees and an increase in investment earnings and transient occupancy tax collections tied to short‑term rentals.
Personnel and operating changes include the addition of a communications specialist, a staff assistant in information technology, six reclassifications to better align positions with duties, and the reclassification of the assistant to the city manager to a deputy city manager position with a stated salary range. The mid‑cycle review also reduces the planned use of reserves by approximately $937,000 due to the internal reallocation of fire equipment replacement funding.
Councilmember O’Donnell moved to accept staff recommendations and the motion was seconded and adopted unanimously.
The update will be reflected in the city’s published exhibits and returned for formal budget controls and future implementation steps as described in the agenda report.
