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Diamond Bar approves $49.4 million FY 2026–27 budget; council prioritizes automated doors for senior center amid tight forecast
Summary
The council adopted the FY 2026–27 budget and related resolutions 5–0 after hearing public pleas and staff briefings. Councilmembers pressed staff on cost overruns for automatic doors at the Diamond Bar Center, and staff described options including value‑engineering and midyear reprioritization.
Diamond Bar — The City Council on Tuesday approved the FY 2026–27 operating and capital budget and related resolutions, adopting a $49.4 million revenue plan with $49.9 million in expenditures and a projected use of fund balance of approximately $529,000.
Finance Director Jason Jacobson presented the budget and a 10‑year forecast showing a structural deficit if revenue or program changes are not found. "We initially projected a deficit of about $1,500,000 ... through staff adjustments we are near a stable budget for the coming year, but deficits return in later years," Jacobson said, outlining revenue projections, a 5% proposed increase to the proposed year and a 3.6% cost‑of‑living adjustment for staff.
Why it matters: Council members pressed staff about service reductions and operating cost increases, especially for the Diamond Bar Center, where senior advocates have sought automatic doors for years. Public commenters from the Diamond Bar Senior Citizen Club urged the council to restore funding for automatic doors to ease access for older residents.
During the budget hearing, Cindy Morton, a senior‑club representative, asked whether approval of the budget would foreclose future funding for automated doors; staff and the mayor said it would not. Staff reported the city had budgeted about $310,000 for the Diamond Bar Center door project, but bids came back far higher — roughly $1.1 million — because a structural redesign (vestibule, footings, structural steel) and fire suppression upgrades would be necessary to install automatic sliding doors. Project manager Jason Williams described options including value engineering, rebidding and phasing the work.
Councilmembers discussed whether federal CDBG funds could be repurposed for ADA access work; staff cautioned that using federal CDBG dollars triggers prevailing‑wage and procurement requirements that can increase overall project cost. The council expressed consensus to prioritize the door upgrade, pursue value engineering and revisit appropriations at midyear or after further design work.
On other items, the budget includes a $5.3 million capital improvement program (street and park projects), continued appropriations for assessment districts, a $56,000 one‑time use of fund balance for an updated hazard mitigation plan, and program reductions totaling $987,000 included in the proposed budget. The council adopted the budget and a set of resolutions (operating and capital budget, appropriations limit, salary ranges, investment policy) by a 5–0 vote.
The council also heard an explanation from staff about recent residential and commercial waste‑hauler contract changes and annual rate adjustments built into existing contracts, which rely on inflationary formulas tied to disposal costs, fuel and labor. Staff advised that July 1 is the established date for annual adjustments under the adopted contracts.
The council indicated it will monitor midyear finances and attempt to identify funding or value‑engineering solutions for the Diamond Bar Center door project; staff will return with next steps and updated cost estimates.
