Lemon Grove Council reviews balanced $22.4 million budget and expands Measure T spending plan; public urges rec center repairs

The Lemon Grove City Council on June 2 reviewed a proposed FY 2026–27 consolidated operating and capital budget that staff described as balanced and modestly larger in revenue than the prior year.

Interim City Manager Tony Wing and Interim Finance Director Darlene Morrow Truger told the council total revenues and net transfers are projected at about $22,437,395 (a roughly 5.9% increase from the adopted FY 2025–26 budget) while expenditures are estimated at about $22.3 million. Staff said sales and property tax receipts are the largest revenue sources and highlighted a projected general fund reserve above policy minimums.

On Measure T, staff presented a Measure T committee recommendation that raises the committee's proposed spending plan to $5,124,702 from an earlier figure of about $4.0 million. Committee priorities cited to the council included a replacement utility truck ($60,000), additional sidewalks (committee recommended $250,000 for construction; the budget currently includes a $50,000 seed allocation for surveys/design), $100,000 for deferred maintenance, a $50,000 fire inspection vehicle replacement, and a proposed payment strategy for a planned fire truck to spread the cost over multiple years rather than an outright purchase.

Public Works and CIP staff outlined a FY 2026–27 capital improvement program of roughly $14.9 million covering about 31 active and new projects. Highlighted projects include a Massachusetts Avenue storm drain design to address undersized infrastructure, a Broadway and Sweetwater Road improvement funded through a SANDAG grant (design and construction phased over multiple years), safe‑routes and bikeway planning grants, and ongoing sewer rehabilitation work including a $3 million sewer project in progress. Staff also described sanitation capital items such as a new camera van and dump truck and a contingency allocation for unplanned sewer main repairs.

During the public comment period and again during budget deliberations, several residents and community organizations urged the council to allocate Measure T or budget funds to repair and reactivate the Lemon Grove Recreation Center and senior center. Brianna Ayers, founder and president of Libby Grove Community Activities, asked the council to use Measure T money to fix safety padding, emergency exit doors, and other deferred maintenance now so programming can resume. Business representatives and other residents echoed that request and suggested the city consider reserving funds or issuing a request for proposals for programming partners.

Councilmembers questioned staff on specific items: available options for the fire truck purchase (staff reported current lead times of about 44–48 months and noted an 11% savings option for prepayment with performance/payment bond protections); the Sage (SDSU) student design program as a way to make projects shovel‑ready and reduce outside design costs; and the sidewalk seed funding approach, where staff explained the $50,000 is intended to fund initial surveys and outreach to property owners before committing to full construction funding.

Councilmember Mendoza raised several budgetary concerns, including a decline in animal licensing revenue (projected at about $3,500) while animal control contract costs have risen substantially, and questioned adding a $240,000 community development director position without a prior feasibility analysis. She suggested some proposed personnel spending be reconsidered and redirected to higher community priorities such as the recreation center repairs.

The council approved its consent calendar (items 1a–1i, with item 1e pulled) on a 5–0 roll call earlier in the meeting. No final action on the overall FY 2026–27 budget or Measure T spending plan was recorded in the transcript excerpt reviewed; staff indicated they would take additional questions and return with details such as homeowner outreach for sidewalks, exact multi‑year costs for the Broadway and Sweetwater improvements, and more precise financing options for vehicle purchases.

What happens next: staff will return with follow‑up detail on specific questions raised during deliberations, including financing options for the fire truck, homeowner outreach and cost estimates for the sidewalk seed projects, and a report on online animal licensing options. The council did not take a final vote on the consolidated budget in the portion of the meeting covered by the transcript.