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Finance director outlines $208.9M FY2027 book; Council reviews staffing, reserves and proposed tax increase
Summary
The proposed FY2027 budget totals about $208.9 million with 16.82 FTE additions (mostly public safety); staff proposed a property tax increase to cover part of a new fire station's operating cost, and advised uses of reserves for one-time capital projects.
Finance Director Anna Montoya presented the FY2027 budget book, reporting approximately $208.9 million in total proposed expenditures across all funds and noting 16.82 proposed full-time equivalent positions, largely in public safety. She said the Fire Department requests include nine new positions to staff the planned west-side fire station (three captains, three lieutenants, three firefighter-paramedics) and that public safety comprises roughly 62% of General Fund spending in the proposed budget.
Montoya described one policy tradeoff: the proposed $4 million Fitness Center project would be funded from General Fund reserves as a one-time capital expenditure rather than ongoing revenues. "The approximately $4 million project would be funded entirely by General Fund reserves and would not affect the City's balanced operating budget," she said, adding that using reserves for one-time capital aligns with City policy. She also explained the proposed property tax increase would cover only about $600,000 of the estimated $1.4 million annual cost of operating the new fire station; the remainder would be supported through budget adjustments and existing revenues. Council asked staff to return with updated budget materials, PARC allocations, and a five-year capital plan before final adoption.
