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Palm Desert council adopts balanced $112.6M budget and $76.4M CIP, allocates Measure G projects
Summary
The council approved the citys FY 2026-27 financial plan with roughly $112.6 million in general fund revenue and a $76.4 million capital improvement program, continuing Measure G allocations for public safety and infrastructure and approving the staffing schedule and travel memo.
The Palm Desert City Council on Thursday approved a balanced fiscal year 2026-27 budget that projects about $112.6 million in general fund revenue and roughly $112.6 million in expenditures, leaving a modest $69,000 surplus and no draw on reserves.
Finance Director Veronica Chavez and budget analyst Sky Wookalix told the council the budget funds public safety, economic development and infrastructure needs while aligning available resources with council priorities including mall redevelopment, North Palm Desert area planning, community resilience, and Measure G investments. The proposed 10-year capital improvement program totals about $76.4 million and lists projects including fire station improvements, the new Palm Desert Library construction and D. Irwin Park upgrades.
Measure G revenue, now in its third year, was shown fully allocated per the adopted five-year spending plan; staff said Measure G funds support public safety, facility improvements, North Palm Desert infrastructure, parks and public works staffing. The city estimated an ending fund balance near $120 million with required reserves of roughly $70.1 million.
Councilmembers asked about public outreach and document access; staff said the Civic Academy was used this year to illustrate budget tradeoffs and acknowledged web accessibility (WCAG/ADA) work had moved prior PDFs into the citys repository, a change staff committed to streamline for residents. Council also discussed contingency funding in the police budget; staff said a $1.56 million contingency is retained to address potential higher costs while prior contingencies had been smaller in earlier years.
After questions and discussion, the council voted 5-0 to adopt the FY 2026-27 financial plan, approve the staffing resolution and accept the out-of-state travel memo. Mayor Tribby said staff would return to council with financing options and additional CIP-level detail in a future study session.
