Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 Recommended Budget

General Fund Expenditure Highlights

Expenditures By Category The chart below shows a comparison of General Fund expenditures by category for FY 23-24 actual expenditures, the FY 24-25 amended budget, the FY 25-26 recommended budget, and the FY 26-27 projected budget.

General Fund Expenditures by Expenditure Category

The FY 25-26 General Fund budget includes personnel cost of $261,538,075 million, $10.6 million or 4.2% higher than the current revised budget. Personnel cost represent the largest portion of General Fund expenditures, at almost 60% of overall expenses. The General Fund has a net increase of 14.23 FTEs. This includes an increase of 15.23 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. There is also an elimination of one (1) FTE position to prioritize resources. A total of 13.23 FTEs were added as part of mid-year position requests and reorganizations. Two (2) additional FTEs were added as a service enhancement to support Police initiatives. Several position changes are included for a variety of General Fund departments detailed in the Position Summary section of the document. Approximately 40 FTE positions have been frozen in the General Fund amongst a variety of cost saving strategies. These hiring freezes will produce a salary and benefits savings of about $3.5 million. Exemptions to this freeze include sworn public safety personnel, telecommunicators, and other positions deemed critical to service delivery. Minimum starting pay will increase from $18.75 to $20.00, or $41,600 annually. The budget includes funds for the continuation of the Police and Fire step programs for appropriate ranks. A 4% average merit increase for all benefited employees and a 4% step movement for general step employees are also included in the budget. An additional $200,000 is included for adjustments to the Fire Engineer position classification. The budget also includes required increases to health care premiums and retirement system contributions made by the City for all employees totaling more than $4.0 million. Maintenance and Operations (M&O) expenditures, including transfers to other funds and debt services are budgeted at $178,762,491, approximately $8.1 million or 4.8% higher than the current year amended budget. Approximately $8.8 million in savings from various reductions in budgeted M&O accounts helps achieve a balanced budget. Reductions include delayed implementation of the Police Take Home Car Program and delay of roof replacement projects. Additional reductions are being implemented in a variety of service areas and are discussed in greater detail throughout the document highlights. Increased service and contract cost for supplemental fire protection, federal and state lobbying, public safety radios, and other services are included at approximately $4.8 million. An additional $1.1 million is included due to street light program electric rate increases. Transfer to the Debt Services fund decreases $25,000 due to planned debt service needs. The transfer to the Solid Waste Management Fund increases $2.5 million to support increased contract cost and to address necessary compliance issues at the transfer station. The transfer to the Parking Fund increases by $1.4 million. The General Fund contribution to the Coliseum is $3.4 million, the same as current year. Capital outlay, expenses for equipment and vehicles and other assets over $5,000 which have a useful life of more than a year is budgeted at 885,001. This is for the purchase of two (2) additional solid waste vehicles. The FY 26-27 projected budget of $464,499,045 is $23,313,478 or 5.3% higher than the FY25-26 recommended budget.

Recommended FY 25-26 Budget

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