Fremont council adopts FY 2026–27 operating budget after second public hearing

The Fremont City Council on June 9 adopted the fiscal year 2026–27 operating budget and appropriations limit following a second public hearing and staff briefing.

Finance staff (introduced by the mayor as Finance Director David Purcellin) summarized the budget assumptions, noting that the city’s current overall vacancy rate is about 11 percent and that historic differences between final expenditures and budgeted amounts averaged about 6.6 percent over the last 10 years. Staff explained that estimated savings in the proposed budget reflect both vacancy‑driven personnel savings and non‑personnel savings (supplies, services and capital expenditures), and that the general fund forecast included in the proposed operating budget projects the following two fiscal years to give council and the public a multi‑year view.

Councilmember Kimberlin asked whether the forecast models project multiple years; staff confirmed that the forecast projects two additional fiscal years and will be part of the adopted operating budget document. With no speakers during the public‑hearing portion, Councilmember (Vice Mayor) King moved to accept the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Staff noted that although the proposed budget is balanced, it does not restore service capacity lost in prior balancing actions and that council should consider the cumulative effects of those reductions when evaluating new spending requests, staffing additions and capital priorities.