BACKGROUND:
The City of Cathedral City is proud to participate in the Government Finance Officer Association’s (GFOA’s) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award program for the City’s Biennial Budget. Since FY 08/09, we have received this prestigious award for the past eight (8) budget documents submitted covering the past fifteen (15) budget periods. The FY 2023/2024 and FY 2024/2025 Biennial Budget will be the City’s 9th submission to GFOA for this award.
In December 2022, the six (6)-month budget preparation cycle began. The budget worksheets for the six departments (City Management, Financial Services, Development Services, Engineering and Public Works, Police and Fire) were prepared and distributed for review and feedback.
In January, these worksheets along with department narratives, consisting of department goals, objectives (in meeting both department and City Council goals), accomplishments and strategies with planning for performance measures were provided for update and feedback.
In February, a draft 5-Year Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Plan and a Parks Improvement Project (PIP) Plan was prepared and submitted to the Engineering and Public Works Department for their review. With these plans, there were meetings to review status of the existing (outstanding) projects, identify new (funded) projects and unfunded projects. Project scope (boundary) was determined and (if known) funding needs and associated timelines.
In March, revenue and expense summaries were created. City Management reviewed and reviewed, coordinated and made recommendations on the budget. City Council was provided the budget workbook for review and provided feedback/questions to staff prior to the two April study sessions.
From mid-February through mid-April, Staff provided departmental briefings to City Council outlining staffing, goals, needs (changes) projected for the upcoming biennial budget.
DISCUSSION:
During the month of April, there were Study Session discussions to review the budget workbooks and associated questions. The April 12 th session was dedicated to the General Fund and the April 26th session is devoted to the Special Revenue Funds, Proprietary (Internal) Service Funds, and the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan.
The proposed FY 2023/2024 and FY 2024/2025 Biennial Budget will be included on the May 10, 2023 Council Meeting. This version will include any updates and changes from updated information/changes, the General Fund sessions held on April 12, 2023 and from the Special Funds / Proprietary Funds / 5-Year CIP Plan / 5-Year PIP Plan session held on April 26, 2023.
With Council’s concurrence at the May 10, 2023 meeting, the adopted budget will then be submitted to Council for final approval on the May 24, 2023 Council Meeting.
For this meeting, these are the topics to be discussed:
Special Revenue Funds
•Traffic Safety
•Developer Fee, Art in Public Places Account
•Public, Education and Government (PEG)
•Gas Tax
•Measure A
•Solid Waste
•Housing Successor
Proprietary Funds
•Equipment Replacement
•Insurance
•Technology
•Facilities
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan (attached) with $40+M in projected funding in the upcoming biennial budget, consisting of:
•17 Existing projects continuing into the upcoming budget cycle •26 New projects
•3 Unfunded projects for future budget consideration
Parks Improvement Program (PIP) Plan (attached) with $3+M in projected funding in the upcoming biennial budget:
oAmerican Disabilities Act (ADA)
▪Century Park
▪Dennis Keat Soccer Park
▪Panorama Park
oUpgrades
▪Century Park
▪Downtown Dog Park
▪Dennis Keat Soccer Park
▪Ocotillo Park
▪Panorama Park
▪Town Square
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A, the budget book is on file with the City Clerk’s office.