Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fy27 Budget Amendments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Moraga council adopts FY27 budget amendments; Commons Park shade structure proposed with $200,000 pledge
Summary
The council approved amendments to the fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budgets, increasing general fund appropriations by about $201,000 and adding a $218,000 Commons Park shade-structure CIP with a $200,000 pledge from the Moraga Community Foundation; staff said remaining costs would come from the asset replacement fund if needed.
The Moraga Town Council voted to adopt staff-recommended amendments to the FY27 operating budget and capital improvement program on July 8, approving roughly $201,000 in net appropriation increases and adding a proposed shade-structure project at Commons Park.
Administrative Services Director Katie Bruner told the council staff recommended increasing both general fund revenues and appropriations by "about $201,000," bringing projected general fund revenues and appropriations to approximately $13.9 million. Bruner said the revenue increases are driven primarily by parks and recreation (about $140,000 tied to a new after-school enrichment site and senior programming) and public works (about $58,000 from increased encroachment-permit revenue).
On the capital side, staff recommended adding a project to install shade structures at the Commons Park all-access playground, estimating the total project cost at about $218,000. Bruner said the Moraga Community Foundation has pledged to target $200,000 in fundraising toward that project; the town would fund the remaining difference from the asset replacement fund if the fundraising target is not met. "The Moraga Community Foundation has pledged to fundraise $200,000 of that cost," Bruner said.
Council members reviewed staffing and program changes included in the amendment, including converting an accounting technician position to full time (net staffing increase of 0.65 FTE), modest increases to parks and recreation part-time staff, and reclassifying two police corporal positions to sergeants (no net headcount change). Bruner also reported the town’s audited general fund reserve balance was about $6.8 million as of June 30, 2025, and estimated the reserve requirement of 50% of operating expenditures would be about $6.9 million, requiring an additional contribution of just over $100,000 to fully fund reserves.
Council discussed scope details for the Commons Park shade structures (one member asked that shade not be placed over the sand area because of child-safety concerns), repair of fascia stone on a nearby retaining wall and timing dependencies tied to bids and final scope. Council then voted to adopt the resolutions amending the FY27 general fund and CIP budgets; the motion passed by unanimous roll-call voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will return with final bid results and a recommended funding plan for the shade structures and will implement the approved position and program changes pending standard hiring and classification procedures.
