CITY OF SALINAS
BUDGET IN BRIEF
FISCAL YEAR 2025-26
Table Of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................3 Strategic Goals ....................................................................................4 City of Salinas by the Numbers ....................................................5 Citywide Budget ................................................................................6 General Fund ......................................................................................7 Community Engagement and Sponsorships ..........................8 Enterprise Funds ................................................................................8 What is Measure G? ..........................................................................9 Measure G Projects Highlights .............................................10 CIP and Infrastructure Projects ..................................................11 CIP Project Highlights .............................................................. 12 City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 2
Introduction
The City of Salinas, located in California’s agriculturally rich Central Coast, is home to over 162,000 residents who reflect a vibrant, diverse and growing community. In recent years, the City has focused on continuing to expand public services, supporting economic development, and investing in critical infrastructure while embracing sustainability in line with the City’s Strategic Plan.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–26 Proposed Budget represents a balanced and strategic approach to continuing this progress. It recognizes key challenges, such as addressing significant infrastructure improvements, renewing focus on Economic Development, and moving forward with the Chinatown Revitalization Plan, Alisal Vibrancy Plan/Marketplace & Visión Salinas.
What is a Budget in Brief?
This document provides a simplified overview of the City of Salinas’ FY 2025–26 Proposed Budget. It summarizes major revenue sources and expenditures, highlights community investments, and outlines progress on strategic goals. Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or community partner, this summary is designed to help you understand how public dollars are being used to serve our community.
For the full FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget, visit our website here.
Budget Process
Community
Outreach
Council and staff
gather input from
community
01 02
Council
Sets Goals
Council sets
goals based
on community
feedback
03 Budget
Development
City staff develop
work plans to
implement
City goals
04 Proposed
Budget
City submits
proposed budget
for Council review
05 Adopted
Budget
Council
approves
final budget
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 3
Strategic Goals
The Salinas City Council adopted 2025 Strategic Goals are designed to guide the decision-making processes in the City. The FY 2025-26 budget aims to advance these goals. (about 1 page)
Housing
Economic
Development
Infrastructure
City
Services
Public
Safety
Y outh and
Seniors
City Council
Strategic Goals
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 4
(1 page)
City of Salinas by the Numbers
277
Miles of
Sanitary Sewer
Main Pipelines
158
Miles of
Storm Drain
Pipelines
164
Streetlights
Repaired/
Replaced
114
Total Traffic
Signals
118,273
Dispatched Calls
for Service
381
Total Number of
Investigations
Completed
14,470
Building
Inspections
3,204
Building
Permit Reviews
195
Approved
Accessory Dwelling
Unit Permits
1,508
Building
Permits
Approved
42 Total Parks
299,899
Recreation Facility
Attendance
3,536
Youth Sports
Registrants
17,605
Emergency
Responses
1,120
Fire Code/State
Mandated Inspections
394
Fire Plan
Checks
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 5
Citywide Budget
The Citywide Budget outlines how the City of Salinas allocates financial resources across all departments and services, balancing daily operational needs with long-term investments in infrastructure, sustainability and community well-being.
For FY 2025–26, the City’s total budget is $284,993,377, which includes the General Funds, Other Governmental Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, and Capital Funds.
Salinas is committed to maintaining a structurally balanced budget while also planning for future growth. (similar to Mountain View example page 6, 1 page)
General Operating Fund $184.3
Capital Funds $35.8
Other Governmental Funds $31.1
Enterprise Funds $19.6
Internal Service Funds $14.2
(All numbers indicated below are in millions)
(All numbers indicated below are in millions)
Total Expenditures, All Funds
General Operating Fund Break Down
General Fund
$126.869%
18%
13%
Measure G
$33.7
Measure E
$23.8
Citywide Budget
$285.0
million
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 6
General Fund
The General Fund is the City’s primary operating fund, supporting the essential day-to-day services that benefit all residents of Salinas. These include police and fire services, libraries, parks, recreation, code enforcement, and street maintenance. The City’s General Fund revenues are the money the City collects from sources such as sales tax, property tax, other taxes, and transfers. The City’s General Fund expenditures are the money the City spends from that fund to cover employee wages and benefits, supplies, services, overtime, major purchases, and debt payments.
(1 page)
Salaries & Benef its $118.0
Supplies & Services $34.2
Transfers Out $23.2
Overtime $8.2
Capital Outlay & Debt Service $1.7
General Fund Expenditures
(All numbers indicated below are in millions)
General Fund
Revenue
$184.5
million
General Fund
Expenditures*
$185.3
million
Sales & Use Tax $91.0
Property Taxes $41.5
Other Revenues* $25.6
Other Taxes $23.9
Transfers in $2.5
General Fund Revenues
(All numbers indicated below are in millions)
*Other Revenues consists of Licenses & Permits, Franchise Fees, Fines & Forfeitures, Intergovernmental, Charges for Services, and Investment Earnings.
*General Fund Expenditures include $1.0 million transfer for capital projects.
Sales Tax - $39.3M
Measure E
Sales Tax
Measure G
$39.3
$34.5
$17.2
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 7
Enterprise Funds
Enterprise Funds operate more like businesses,
they are self-sustaining through user fees and
charges. This ensures key services are provided
without putting pressure on the General Fund.
The funds, shown in the table below, are from the
operating budget.
Fund Type Amount
Municipal Airport $ 2,401,490
Industrial Waste $ 2,564,070
Sewer $ 4,678,150
Parking Districts $ 2,829,790
Permit Services $ 7,109,105
FY 2024-25
Community Engagement
and Sponsorships
Sponsorship Recipient Amount
California International Airshow Salinas $ 30,000
Salinas Regional Soccer Complex $ 20,000
First Mayor’s House $ 16,000
Celebrate America $ 15,000
El Grito $ 15,000
Science Workshop $ 12,000
Ciclovia $ 10,000
Holiday Parade of Lights $ 8,000
Veteran's Parade $ 8,000
Asian Cultural Festival $ 6,000
Juneteeth Celebration $ 5,000
Salinas Pride $ 5,000
TOTAL $ 150,000
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 8
What is Measure G?
Measure G is a 1% local general transactions and use tax approved by Salinas voters in 2014. It is projected to generate $36.1 million in revenue for FY 2025–26, supporting a wide range of essential City services and projects, including public safety and major capital projects.
In FY 2025-26, Measure G funds will help staff 106.5 full-time positions across multiple departments.
Oversight of the fund is provided by a citizen-led Oversight Committee.
As a time-limited measure, it is set to expire in 2030, potentially leaving the City with a significant annual revenue gap of over $40 million if not renewed by voters. (1 page)
45 40
35 30
25 20
15 10
5 0
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
FY 2022-23(actual)FY 2021-22(actual) FY 2023-24(actual)FY 2024-25(budget)FY 2025-26(budget)FY 2026-27(forecast)FY 2027-28(forecast)FY 2028-29(forecast)FY 2029-30(forecast)FY 2030-31 with Measure G
FY 2030-31
without Measure G
Measure G Revenue Without
Measure G
With
Measure G
$ 0$ 40.6
Projected revenue
from Measure G
Actual revenue and budgeted
revenue from Measure G
Current
Y ear
$ 34.5
FY 2025-26
Full Time Employees (FTE) Funded by Measure G
106.5 FTE
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 9
Example
Measure G Projects
(Inception to date)
• Cesar Chavez Soccer Field
• Sidewalk and Drainage Repairs
• Street Preventive Maintenance
• Northgate Dog Park
• Facilities ADA Improvements
• Alisal Vibrancy Plan
• Fire Station Improvements
• Traffic Calming Improvements
• Police Service Building
• Boronda Road Traffic
Congestion Relief
• Hebbron Family Center
Improvements
• Community Center
Improvements
• Cesar Chavez Trail
• Sherwood Tennis Center
Improvements
• Recreation Facility at
Municipal Pool
Measure G Project Highlights
Cesar Chavez Soccer Field
This project is a recreational asset for the Salinas community and it includes the construction of a full-sized synthetic turf soccer field, upgrades to the irrigation system, drainage improvements, and various landscaping enhancements.
Hebbron Family Center Improvements
The new Hebbron Family Center will offer programs to Salinas residents of all ages, from tiny tots to teens and seniors. The center will have community and meeting rooms, a teen lounge and kitchen, outdoor gathering spaces and multi-use sports court along with other lot improvements.
Boronda Road Traffic Congestion Relief
The Boronda Congestion Relief Project will create safer roads, enhanced accessibility and prepare the City for future growth. With plans for new homes in the Future Growth Area, Salinas is preparing for an increase in population and traffic, ensuring Boronda Road is safely equipped to meet these demands. The overall project includes the widening of East Boronda Road into a four-lane roadway (two lanes at each direction), and the construction of 4 multi-lane roundabouts at the intersections of McKinnon Street, El Dorado Drive, Natividad Road, and Independence Boulevard. The project will include the construction of bioretention facilities, buffered bike lanes, bus pullouts, sidewalks, ADA-compliant access ramps, storm drain lines, sanitary sewer lines, street lighting, landscaping, and other improvements.
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 10
(1 page)
CIP and Infrastructure Projects
The City of Salinas’ Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) outlines investments in physical infrastructure across the City, such as roads, parks, public buildings and utility systems. These projects are essential to long-term resilience, economic development and neighborhood revitalization.
Str eet & Sidewalk Maintenance $14.3
Engineering & Transportation $11.1
Other* $1.3
Storm Sewer $1.2
Facilities Maintenance $0.9
Traf f ic Signals $0.6
(All numbers indicated below are in millions)
Capital Improvement Projects
Capital
Improvement
Projects
$29.4
million
*Other consist of improvements at Airport, Permit
Technologies, Urban Forestry, and Industrial Waste.
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 11
Major CIP Project
(FY 2025-26)
• Fire Station Improvements
• Monterey Garage
Improvements
• Storm Sewer Infrastructure
Improvements
• Bicycle Lane Installations and
Pedestrian Safety
• Sidewalk and Drainage Repairs
• Street Preventive Maintenance
• Traffic Signal and Street
Light Upgrades
• Sidewalk and Pavement
Maintenance
• Safe Routes to School
• Boronda Road Traffic
Congestion Relief
• Striping and Signing
Improvements
• Williams Road Streetscape
and Safety
CIP Project Highlights
Traffic Signal and Street Light Upgrades $1,120,000
This project includes analysis and installation of lighting in high crime areas. Upgrades to traffic signals, controllers, cabinets, opticom, video detection, leading pedestrian phases, LED beacons, and communication upgrades. In addition, traffic signals will be upgraded to meet ADA standards with pushbuttons, audible signals, and various ADA upgrades.
Safe Routes to School $6,076,097
The Salinas Safe Routes to School Plan is proposed in response to requests from the community to address the serious and growing traffic safety problems in the City. Safety improvements will include a road diet, a 2-way separated multi-use path, stormwater bioretentions, accessible sidewalks and crosswalks, curb extensions, a roundabout, buffered bike lanes, Class IV bikeway, curb extensions, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons.
Street, Drainage, and Signage Repairs $14,300,000
The City has an ongoing pavement maintenance program to reseal City streets. The resurfacing of streets prolongs the life of the streets by decreasing deterioration. Maintenance staff will patch/repair and crack seal streets, damaged curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveway approaches throughout the City damaged by City trees within the street right-of-way. In addition, staff will work on pavement preventive maintenance limits and striping within City Street limits. The striping of City streets has faded as street repairs scheduled have been delayed. As a result, street center lines, crosswalks and other pavement markings that help contribute to street safety need updating. Treatment may include pavement rehabilitation, patch/repair, crack seal, slurry, and chip seal.
City of Salinas Budget in Brief | FY 2025-26 | 12
City of Salinas
200 Lincoln Avenue
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 758-7381
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor ..................................................Dennis Donohue Councilmember, District 1 ...........Jose Luis Barajas
Councilmember, District 2 ...................Tony Barrera Councilmember, District 3 ........Margaret D’Arrigo
Councilmember, District 4 .........Gloria De La Rosa
Councilmember, District 5 ........ Andrew Sandoval
Councilmember, District 6 ..............Aurelio Salazar
CITY STAFF
City Manager ..........................................................................René Mendez Assistant City Manager .......................................................... Lisa Murphy City Attorney ........................................................Christopher A. Callihan Human Resources Director .............................Marina Horta-Gallegos Library and Community Services Director ..........Kristan Lundquist Public Works Director ........................................................... David Jacobs Police Chief ..............................................................................Carlos Acosta Community Development Director ...................................Lisa Brinton Fire Chief ...............................................................................Samuel Klemek Finance Director .................................................................Selina Andrews