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St. Helena council adopts midyear budget adjustments, projects $3 million reserve use
Summary
Council adopted staff’s midyear budget adjustments after a presentation showing FY25 unaudited actuals and FY26 projections; staff estimated adjusted FY26 revenues of about $21.5 million and adjusted expenses of $22.9 million, which could use approximately $3.0 million of fund balance if encumbrances are spent.
The Saint Helena City Council approved staff-recommended midyear budget adjustments that update FY25 actuals and revise FY26 projections, with staff noting an estimated use of roughly $3.0 million in fund balance if current encumbrances are expended.
Director Kellogg presented unaudited FY25 results: "actual revenues came in at about 19,800,000" while actual expenditures were about $20,700,000; staff attributed some of the variance to $580,000 in salary savings and lower contract services. For FY26 the staff recommended adjusted revenues of roughly $21.5 million, adjusted expenses of $22.9 million and noted that encumbered carryovers of about $1.7 million would contribute to a projected use of reserves of approximately $3.0 million, leaving an estimated reserve level near 50% at fiscal-year end.
Kellogg highlighted revenue shifts: a stronger-than-expected sales-tax performance (noting a roughly 10% increase in Q3 vs. prior year), an upward revision of investment earnings (from $250,000 to about $500,000), and a projected decline in transient-occupancy tax. On the expense side, staff requested targeted increases for items including workers' compensation, banking-fee reallocations tied to new software, election costs (if the council pursues a ballot measure), and water- and wastewater-related operating needs.
Council members asked for more detail on encumbrances and projects rolled forward; Kellogg said staff would provide a list in a future report or as an attachment at budget adoption. The council approved the staff recommendations on a roll-call vote.
