Big Bear Lake adopts FY 2026-27 budget and five-year CIP; council approves Beaver/Badger parking CIP

The Big Bear Lake City Council unanimously adopted its FY 2026-27 operating budget and five-year capital improvement plan at the June 10 meeting, approving staffing levels, departmental plans and several capital projects including the Beaver and Badger parking-lot rehabilitation. Council also incorporated the Department of Water & Power (DWP) budget into the city—budget as required by municipal code.

City Manager Eric presented the budget summary and five-year CIP, reporting roughly $59 million in total budgeted resources across funds and a general-fund operating picture that staff said is balanced with a modest positive net operating result. The CIP highlights included nearly $9.5 million in capital projects over five years, including $2.5 million budgeted in the current year to rehabilitate the Beaver/Badger lots and access improvements to Squirrel and Beaver streets.

Resident David Clawson asked for more detail on the land purchase tied to the Beaver/Badger project, saying, "In a very short time, we spent an awful lot of money to buy a couple of lots to put snow on." City finance staff responded that the Beaver/Badger lot is presented in the CIP at $2.5 million and that the project will return for bid award and council approval of any construction contract.

The council also received the AB 2561 staffing update: the city reported 72 full-time equivalent positions with eight vacancies (11.1% vacancy rate) and ongoing recruitments for represented positions in facilities and street maintenance. The council discussed a user-friendly budget brief and a searchable online budget tool staff plans to publish in July.

Separately, the council adopted a resolution incorporating the DWP FY 2026-27 budget into the city's budget book. The DWP budget presented approximately $19.5 million in total revenues for the coming year (about $6.1 million of that amount tied to previously issued debt) and roughly $8.3 million in planned capital expenditures, including a multi-million-dollar operations facility project. Council discussion noted the DWP's outstanding amortized debt and a reported approximate debt-service level of about $1.62 million annually; staff said the enterprise must maintain its reserve policy and commercially backed covenants.

Why it matters: The adopted operating budget and CIP set near-term service levels, street and facility priorities, and the city's capital spending plan. The Beaver/Badger project and DWP capital program are significant near-term investments that will affect construction schedules, reserve levels and future budgets.