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Moraga Fire District adopts preliminary FY2027 budget despite $413,000 county supplemental tax shortfall
Summary
The Moraga Fire District board adopted a preliminary FY2027 budget that staff say conservatively assumes $100,000 in supplemental property tax receipts after a county transmission delay left the district about $413,000 short of expected supplemental taxes for FY2026.
The Moraga Fire District board on June 17 adopted a preliminary fiscal year 2027 operating budget after staff disclosed a shortfall in supplemental property taxes and outlined operational and capital priorities.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the preliminary budget after staff reported the district received $137,425 in supplemental property-tax receipts for FY2026 compared with $550,000 budgeted—a negative variance of approximately $413,000. Finance staff told directors the county assessor experienced a technology transmission problem that delayed supplemental bills to the auditor-controller, and staff said they had not received a firm timeline for catch-up from county offices. The presenter also noted the FBI executed a search at the Contra Costa County assessor’s office days earlier; staff said the district had no involvement with that action.
Why it matters: supplemental property taxes are unpredictable and, for this district, accounted for a material but not majority share of projected revenues. Staff built a conservative estimate of $100,000 for supplemental taxes into the preliminary FY2027 budget and preserved a projected $182,000 surplus while funding a transfer to capital projects and modest reclassifications.
Details: staff reported $31 million invested in treasury bills and outlined several changes since the April budget workshop, including adding $54,000 in expected rental income from the new administration building’s first floor, reducing the cellular phone budget by $15,000, and targeting workers’ compensation savings. The preliminary general fund shows $40.4 million in revenue, $39.4 million in expenditures, and a $751,000 transfer to the capital projects fund for depreciation and planned capital work. The capital projects fund includes funding reductions reflecting reconciliation of fire engine purchases (budgeted for two Type 3 engines; funding now needed for one).
Board discussion and next steps: directors asked staff about outreach to neighboring agencies and county officials; staff said they had contacted San Ramon Valley Fire, the city of Orinda, and Moraga and received limited or no replies from some. County Supervisor Jill Ray was contacted and staff said she was looking into the issue. Directors praised staff for budget work given late changes and asked for follow-up on county timing; staff said they would provide updated information when available and that budget assumptions could be revised before final adoption.
The board adopted the preliminary budget by roll-call vote. The district will return for final budget adoption at the legally required time after any further county or revenue updates.
