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Finance director outlines balanced 2027–28 biennial budget and limited discretionary funds
Summary
Finance Director Barbara Lopez told the council the proposed 2027–28 biennial budget is balanced overall but leaves limited tier‑3 (one‑time) funds; staff recommended directing a portion of future tier‑3 monies to street preservation and flagged a $1.1M shortfall for sustainable street maintenance versus an estimated $3.2–3.3M need.
Finance Director Barbara Lopez presented economic context and the proposed framework for the 2027–28 biennial budget. Lopez said core revenues (sales tax, property tax and utility taxes) support baseline services and that the city’s budget‑stability policy guides conservative revenue estimates. The biennial forecast showed general‑fund core revenues roughly aligned with baseline expenditures so the overall biennium balances, but available discretionary (tier‑3) funds are limited after prior allocations and a $5M reserve for a jail remodel.
Lopez and Public Works Director Ken Davies highlighted a structural gap in street preservation funding. Davies said the city’s street network grew about 14% since 2006 while the annual repair and replacement budget remained essentially flat at $1.1M; staff estimated a more sustainable annual preservation level of $3.2–3.3M to prevent the system from moving into costly rehabilitation or reconstruction cycles.
Council members asked for comparative metrics with peer cities, per‑capita breakdowns and suggested using a portion of future tier‑3 funds for pavement preservation. No formal budget decisions were taken at the meeting; staff will return with detailed proposals and capital planning updates during the October budget study sessions.
