Small town,big heart! ~ ¡Pueblo chico, corazóngrande!
147 Fourth Street · PO Box 647, Gonzales, CA 93926· Phone: (831) 675-5000· Fax: (831) 675-2644 https://gonzalesca.gov/
City of Gonzales
Council Member Scott Funk, Council Member Lorraine Worthy, Council MemberMaria Orozco Mayor Jose L. Rios, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Silva, City Manager Carmen Gil Fiscal Year 2025-2026
CITY
&
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
Recommended Budget
(June 16, 2025)
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, familyfriendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve
and retain its small town charm
City of Gonzales
FY 2025-2026
City Council/
Successor Agency
(5)
Finance Director
(Contracted)
Community
Development
Director
Building Official
(Contracted)
Dev. Services
Technician/Admin Analyst
Vacant (1)
Public Works
Director/City Engineer
Admin
Assistant II
(1) Public Works
Intern
(1)
Public Works
Supervisor
(1)
Fire Chief
Volunteers
(2)
Captains
(3) Firefighters
(3)
Police Chief
Captain
Vacant (1)
Police Services
Technician
(1)
Sergeants
(2)
Corporals
(2)
Officers (6)
Vacant (2)
Police Officer
Recruit
Vacant (1)
Executive Asst./
Records Supervisor
(1)
Recreation and
Community
Engagement
Interns
CSUMB/HCC
(2)
Recreation
Coordinator/
Admin Analyst
(1)
Sports and Senior
Programs
Coordinator
(1)
Youth Programs
Coordinator
(1)
City Manager/
Executive Director
City Attorney
Lifeguards/Rec
Aides
(Part-time)
Kid Power/
Summer
Camp
(Part-time)
Admin
Assistant II
(1)
Executive Asst. to the
CM/Deputy City Clerk
Lead Worker (1)
Vacant (1)
Technician
(1)
Mechanic
(1)
Maintenance Workers
(6)
Admin Assistant II
(1/2)
Senior
Accounting
Technician
(1)
Admin
Assistant II
(1/2)
https://gonzalesca.gov/
City of Gonzales
Council Member Scott Funk, Council Member Lorraine Worthy, Council MemberMaria Orozco Mayor Jose L. Rios, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Silva, City Manager Carmen Gil Small town, big heart! ~ ¡Pueblo chico,corazóngrande!
June 10, 2025
Honorable Mayor Rios and Council Members
Chairperson Rios and Successor Agency Board Members
Chairperson Rios and Gonzales Municipal Electric Authority P.O. Box 647
Gonzales, California 93926
Dear Council and Board Members:
I present to your Council and Board the Recommended Budget for FY 2025-2026. It goes without saying that our City of Gonzales continues to embody our motto of Love, Care and Connect. In FY 2024-2025, we hit major milestones in our infrastructure that will prepare our city for the future.
The new Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex that will be completed later this year brings hope to the community and serves as a testament that if we set a goal, no matter how high, we can achieve it – through collaboration. Our youth, families and community will be benefiting from it for years to come. As we prepare for its Grand Opening in January of 2026, we are establishing cost effective ways to run the center and are working to foster partnerships that can help us offer the programming called for by the community. We will also continue to seek funding opportunities to fund its Phase II.
In FY 2024-2025, after securing the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan in the amount of $34,884,000 we celebrated the groundbreaking of the construction of the new Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant. A major project for us; enhancing its capacity will allow the City to have the ability to connect new homes and businesses and support the expansion of staple Ag Industrial partners that have been patiently waiting for it so that they can grow their businesses. As of today, the work on the pipeline is about to be completed and the work on Phase II, which is the plant’s renovation and expansion, will be starting later this fall.
In FY 2025-2026, we will also see the development of the newly approved Electronic Billboard that is set to start construction in August of 2025. This will bring in additional unrestricted revenue for the City and will serve as a major landmark for us off the 101 Highway. On the housing front, as one of the Council’s priorities, staff continues to work hard to get everything in order for housing to be built. Staff have worked with the Vista Lucia team to bring the project to the Planning Commission for approval and are working to wrap up environmental work to get the project in front of the City Council for consideration and then, if approved, to LAFCo for annexation. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are being built throughout town, which help to relieve some of the overcrowding we see in the community. And staff are working diligently with partners from CHISPA, the Monterey County Housing Authority and D’Arrigo to see how we can encourage the development of local housing. Staff are also beginning to process the Puente Del Monte Specific Plan. 147 Fourth Street · PO Box 647, Gonzales, CA 93926· Phone: (831) 675-5000· Fax: (831) 675-2644 Moreover, although staff have been working extremely hard to reduce costs and secure revenues, operating costs continue to increase, and local and national uncertainty makes costs harder to predict. Therefore, some fiscal uncertainty is factored into this budget. Staff have established more effective protocols and procedures to recover costs and are diligent about generating grant funding. In FY 2024-2025 the City received $1,172,358 in grants not including the draw down from the California Natural Resources Agency funding in the amount of $2,071,788.20 with another payment of $1,243,462.12 due before the end of June for the Teen Innovation Center. Through partnerships, the City has been able to offer more programming and activities and even got a new mural funded and a community garden that has really started to thrive. Staff also received notice that the Office of Traffic Safety has approved their request for funding for FY 2025-2026 in the amount of $30,000 for the purchase of a new radar trailer that will aid in addressing our speeding vehicle concerns.
The number of City staff continues to be very lean and although many projects are being completed or are well on their way to execution, we must stay mindful of staff’s capacity and workload, to prevent burnout; making it imperative that we encourage self-care and continue to create an environment that supports a work-life balance especially during hard financial times, when we cannot give significant, much-deserved, pay increases or reward their successes.
Overall, revenues are $32.8 million; of that, the General Fund appropriations for FY 2025-2026 total $7,424,056. A slight decrease of 1% from FY 2024-2025. Despite escalating costs to worker’s compensation and liability insurance, as well as the employee and management salaries and benefits, and increases to the County Communications 911 System, adjustments have been made to programming and services to balance the budget.
Undoubtedly, the FY 2025-2026 budget continues to reflect the Council’s priorities. For example, it funds all authorized positions, maintains core operations, and it supports the continuation of our major projects: the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex, the expansion of the Industrial Wastewater System and our efforts to expand the local housing stock. It also covers our critical infrastructure needs like the purchase of a new fire truck and puts the “Truck Ban” in place and kicks off other road and street repair projects. As your Council reviews the budget document, please keep in mind that our general fund balance is fragile and any unexpected purchase/initiative should be considered cautiously.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to all my staff and Mike Howard whose service, cooperation, and commitment to excellence made this document possible.
Michael Rodriquez, City Attorney, who has been a great partner and provided invaluable advice to all departments during the year; Mrs. Mary Villegas for her tireless hard work and to the entire staff of the City of Gonzales for their continued dedication and commitment to our community.
Respectfully submitted,
Carmen Gil, MPA
City Manager