City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: March 3, 2026
From: Alice Hui, Director of Finance/City Treasurer
Department: Finance
Submitted by: Alice Hui, Director of Finance/City Treasurer Subject
Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid-Year Financial Update
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2026-007 authorizing and approving mid-year budget appropriations and amending the Annual Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Background
The Mid-Year Financial Update provides an overview of the City’s financial position at the midpoint of the fiscal year and is intended to support City Council in informed decision-making and the continued achievement of the City’s goals. As of December 31, 2025, revenues and expenditures would typically be expected to align near the 50% mark. However, the timing and recognition of certain revenues and expenditures can vary throughout the year.
At mid-year, total Citywide expenses, including non-operating costs, for the General Fund and Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) combined were at 45% of the adopted budget, while revenues were at 53%. Within the General Fund, approximately 46% of budgeted revenues had been received, compared to approximately 42% of budgeted expenditures, indicating that spending is tracking below revenues at this point in the fiscal year.
When excluding grant revenues, General Fund revenues were at 52% of the adopted budget. Grant revenues were minimal at 5%, as most capital projects have not yet begun. On the expenditures side, General Fund salaries and benefits and maintenance and operations (M&O) were each at 47% of budget, while capital project expenditures were at 19%, reflecting the early stages of project implementation.
VPU revenues were at 55% of budget, while expenses were at 47% at the mid-year mark. Staff evaluated the trajectory of actual versus budgeted results and are providing recommendations to appropriate additional funds for unforeseen circumstances that have arisen since the normal course of budget setting during the prior fiscal year. Pursuant to City Charter Chapter 8.5, Council may amend or supplement the budget by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Council.
General Fund
With the completion of the City’s audit for Fiscal Year 2024-25, the General Fund closed the year with a total fund balance of $54,244,152, of which $26,619,588 is available as unassigned fund balance:
FY 2024-25 Audited Final
General Fund Revenues $ 80,494,678
General Fund Expenditures (75,535,864)
Surplus $ 4,958,814
At the adoption of the FY 2024-25 budget on June 4, 2024, the General fund was projected to have a deficit of $7,199,568. Actual results reflected a surplus, primarily attributable to revenues exceeding projections and lower than budgeted M&O and capital outlay expenditures.
Warehouse parcel tax, utility users tax, and building permit fees each generated approximately $1 million more than anticipated. In addition, M&O actual expenditures were approximately $2.8 million below the original budgeted amount. Capital outlay expenditures totaled approximately $4 million, or $7.1 million below the original budgeted amount of $11.1 million, primarily due to the grant funded Atlantic Bridge Project, which remains in its early stages.
FY 2025-26 General Fund Projections
At the time the FY 2025-26 budget was adopted on June 3, 2025, the General Fund was projected to end the year with a surplus of $1.9 million. Total budgeted revenues were $92 million, including $12.2 million in grant revenues, while expenditures, net of estimated savings, were budgeted at $90 million. These estimated savings were based on historical trends, which typically reflect vacancy savings of approximately 5% and M&O savings of approximately10%.
During the current fiscal year, the City implemented a new classification and compensation plan effective July 2025. This plan was adopted after the FY 2025-26 budget was approved and was therefore not incorporated into the original budget assumptions. Based on financial data as of December 31, 2025, the anticipated vacancy savings included in the budget may be fully absorbed by the implementation of the new plan.
In addition, M&O expenditures are occurring at a slightly higher rate than in the prior year, with 47% of the budgeted expended as of December 31, 2025, compared to 46% at the same point in FY 2024-25. For context, the General Fund ended FY 2024-25 with budgetary savings of
8.6% of the original adopted budget. This information provides important context for City Council as staff continue to monitor expenditure trends and evaluate the potential need for budget adjustments.
Below is a summary of major General Fund revenue activity through the end of December. It should be noted that many revenue sources are not received evenly throughout the year, therefore, amounts received through December may not be reflective of anticipated annual totals.
FY 2025-26 Major Revenues through December
Major Sources Budgeted
Actual
through
December
Prior Year
through
December
Prior Year
Final $
Warehouse Parcel Tax $ 14,855,250 $ 6,347,452 $ 6,144,323 $ 15,020,209 Safety Parcel Tax 2,362,100 976,469 991,106 2,315,092
Utility User Tax 13,871,819 6,806,519 7,209,141 13,346,507 Sales Tax 9,126,966 5,294,626 4,516,802 9,424,389
Measure V Sales Tax 4,660,000 3,010,133 2,441,830 4,994,171 Property Tax 6,066,432 1,610,209 1,672,172 6,376,104
Business Licenses 6,232,000 3,914,694 3,988,823 5,957,917 Building Permit Fees 3,489,453 2,173,316 1,212,056 2,109,181 Plan Check Fees 750,000 1,595,833 550,612 914,073
Solid Waste Franchise Fees 1,973,848 1,085,428 1,015,997 2,003,714 In-Lieu Taxes 5,600,000 2,639,140 2,670,344 4,867,592
As shown in the above table, revenues are in line with or exceeding prior year’s actual revenues through the same time period. Accordingly, no General Fund revenue-related budget adjustments are recommended at this time.
Proposed Budget Adjustments
Department staff have reviewed their respective line-item budgets and identified amendments needed to address additional expenditures through the remainder of FY 2025-26. Due to the rising costs of materials, supply chain constraints, labor related costs, and expenditures that were not known or anticipated at the time the budget was adopted, proposed adjustments are being presented to City Council to appropriate and reallocate funds within the General Fund and VPU.
Among the General Fund expenditures not anticipated at FY 2025-26 budget adoption and now included in the midyear adjustments are consulting and legal services related to the Metro Link Us Project, consulting services for a study on business tax contributions, and costs associated with efforts by the “Big 4” coalition of industrial/commercial cities. Since approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between the cities of Vernon, Commerce, Industry and Santa Fe Springs in September of 2025, the Big 4 cities have engaged consultants to assist in advancing their collective goals. Of particular importance, the Big 4 are pursuing legislative changes at the State level to increase SB1 (Road Repair and Accountability Act) allocations for each of the respective cities.
The proposed adjustments are included in Resolution No. 2026-007.
Vernon Public Utilities Forecast
Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) is committed to dependable, high-quality electric, water, natural gas, and fiber services at competitive rates and the highest standards for reliability, while also achieving California's clean energy goals. As a publicly owned utility, VPU is focused on its customers, responsible operations, and a sustainable future. VPU regularly updates its forecast to plan for customer demands, revenues, operating expenses, and capital expenditures. To that end, in Fiscal Year 2025-26, VPU continues to manage its operating expenses and its capital investment to ensure a reliable system infrastructure. Moreover, VPU continues to focus on revenue growth in its transition to clean commerce, including data centers, green hydrogen, and electrification to ensure that VPU is able to maintain utility services and infrastructure into the future as well as being self-sufficient. VPU completed the Water Cost of Service and Rate Design study and implemented an amended five-year water rate schedule that went into effect on January 1, 2026. An Electric Cost of Service and Rate Design Study will begin during this fiscal year with an expectation that it will be presented to City Council during the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget process.
Fiscal Impact
Approval of this action would require an appropriation of $1,188,334 in the General Fund and ($1,461,160) reduction in the Electric Fund, from their respective Fund Balances as detailed in Resolution 2026-007.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2026-007