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Measure J fund balance tops $54 million; officials outline convention center, library, DeMuth Park and paving spending
Summary
Staff told the Measure J Oversight Commission the fund began the year with about $54 million and year-to-date sales tax of $18.8 million; commissioners heard updates on the $135 million convention center renovation, the $42 million library (Measure J set aside $8M), DeMuth Park work (Measure J share ~$8M) and a $9M annual paving program.
City staff presented a detailed Measure J budget update on July 16, reporting a beginning fund balance of roughly $54,000,000 and year-to-date Measure J sales tax receipts of about $18,800,000.
Chris, the commission’s budget lead, told commissioners the fund balance is high because of prior-year carryovers and that interest income is running ahead of budget ($1,250,000 vs a $750,000 budgeted amount). Staff projected total Measure J revenue for the fiscal year could reach roughly $23,000,000 once late collections are posted. "The Measure J fund entered this year with the fund balance of over $54,000,000," staff said on the record.
Major current and planned uses include design work on a proposed $135,000,000 renovation and expansion of the convention center (design costs of $724,000 on the books now), an $8,000,000 Measure J contribution toward a $42,000,000 main library project, and substantial funding for DeMuth Park (staff cited about $8,000,000 from Measure J within a roughly $15,000,000 total city spend). The annual paving program runs about $9,000,000 (budgeted at $9.5M next year) and staff emphasized coordination with Desert Water and other utilities to avoid rework.
Staff also summarized carryover practices that let capital funds roll between fiscal years (explaining much of the large fund balance), listed FY 25–26 expenditures (about $20,200,000 to date) and described deferred maintenance and vehicle purchases totaling approximately $4,400,000 across budget years. Community-initiated grants issued during FY 25–26 totaled about $1,400,000, including final checks to Eisenhower ($500,000), solar panels for the Mizell Center ($500,000) and improvements to the Boys & Girls Club ($500,000).
Francisco Jaime, assistant city engineer, updated the commission on construction schedules: library construction is about 65% complete and on track for a February opening; pickleball courts at DeMuth Park are expected to open the first week of September, with the remainder of DeMuth Park improvements likely complete roughly three months after that.
Staff said the commission will take a deeper financial dive at the September meeting to review forecasts, the convention center debt issuance plan, and other upcoming capital funding decisions.
