Proposed 2025-26 Budget

Overall Budget Summary

The Proposed Budget recommends status quo staffing of 55.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, including negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $17,975,463, funded by revenues of $8,370,450, a General Fund contribution of $6,614,251, a District Sales Tax contribution of $2,000,000, and other fund contributions of $990,762.

The Budget includes a decrease in total revenues of $1,116,882, resulting from a $1,607,988 decrease in grant funds offset by a $115,000 increase in rents and concessions, $125,000 increase in contributions from the Sanitation District to maintain the Lode Street facility, and other normal revenue increases from aquatics offerings and available CSA 11 funds. The District Sales Tax contribution of $2,000,000 funds ongoing parks maintenance as well as youth and senior programs. This is part of the existing General Fund contribution to Parks but is shown separately.

In addition, the Budget includes a District Sales Tax contribution of $1,000,000 for environmental and parks improvements. This contribution is divided evenly between the five supervisorial districts. These funds are currently budgeted in Contingencies at $900,000, pending identification of projects by districts, and Community Development and Infrastructure at $100,000, per District 3’s direction to support the Davenport Sanitation District and Shark Fin Cove Parking Study.

Total expenditures decreased by $1,002,883 led by a $2,273,236 decrease in professional services. This decrease is offset by a $485,700 increase in utilities, $287,203 increase in liability and property insurance, $299,000 increase in maintenance for tree cutting, $263,440 increase in extra help staffing, and 266,346 increase from a change in facility charges to properly reflect the cost of facility services and utilities.

The Parks budget includes 2024-25 mid-year position changes (approved October 8, 2024) that added 1.0 FTE Principal Planner and deleted 1.0 FTE Clerk to support the response to the climate crisis and manage grant-funded initiatives.

Vegetation Management: Proper vegetation management is crucial as it supports local ecosystems by maintaining habitats for wildlife and promoting biodiversity while providing tangible results in the battle to reduce climate change impacts. This proactive approach can help restore natural balance after storm damage, provide carbon sequestration, reduce fuel loads and contribute to overall environmental health, but most importantly, it is crucial to manage County’s liability.

Rising Cost of Utilities: The increase in utility costs strains Parks’ budget, leaving less money available for maintenance and improvements. The proposed budget includes an allocation for utilities an increase of $485,700 from the 2024-25 Adopted Budget. Parks strives to implement sustainable practices, such as water conservation measures, to manage usage and has engaged a consultant to review and identify more beneficial rates.

Measure Q Implementation: With the passage of Measure Q, the Water, Wildfire and Wildlife Protection Act, Parks and the Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience (OR3) have been tasked with implementation and administration of this program. This represents a tremendous opportunity for future projects and programs but also comes with significant responsibilities that Parks and OR3 will need to manage.

Competition for Grant Funds: With federal funding cuts, some grant opportunities, like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, could be eliminated. As a result, the overall pool of available funds from Proposition 4 and other grant programs will shrink. Despite the reduction in funding, the demand for grant funds is likely to remain the same or even increase. To manage the limited funds, eligibility criteria for grant funds may become stricter. The application process may also become more rigorous, requiring detailed justifications and extensive documentation. The increased competition might affect Parks’ ability to acquire new grants.

Measure F Parks Parcel Tax: The current annual parcel tax revenue for CSA 11 is estimated at $340,000 from an annual charge of $8.50 per taxable parcel. Due to an increase in the number of parks, cost increases, and insufficient funding at the current tax rate and to cover anticipated costs, Parks continues to pursue additional funding to aid in the maintenance of parks and recreation facilities, natural resources, response to climate change, beaches, and open space lands, and to develop and support recreation programming. The potential increase in Measure F revenue would lessen the need to rely on the General Fund for parks operations.

Climate Change Impacts: In the next five years, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and intensifying wildfires could strain park ecosystems, increase maintenance costs, and impact visitor safety. Coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and degraded forest health, threaten beaches, trails, wildlife, infrastructure, and cultural landmarks, requiring significant mitigation efforts. Over the next decade, more extreme weather events, such as our recent atmospheric rivers and heat waves, could further degrade infrastructure and habitats, disrupt recreational access, and put pressure on emergency response systems. Without sustained investment in resilience measures and conservation programs, the County’s parks, open spaces, and cultural heritage will be severely impacted or, in some cases, lost completely.

Risk of Reduced Federal Funding: Reduced federal funding, especially for schools and school-adjacent programming, will lead to cuts in affordable programs, limiting access to youth sports, after-school activities, and community events relied on by many families and provided by Parks. If federal funding diminishes, scholarships and free programming could be reduced, disproportionately affecting low-income residents who depend on these services for recreation, education, and wellness. With less federal funding, health and human services agencies may need to cut back on programs that promote physical activity, nutrition, and mental health. As other social services are reduced, Parks may face increased demand for services, as community members seek alternative venues for physical activity, social interaction, and mental health support.