Redlands proposes 2 year budget with emphasis on public safety and infrastructure

REDLANDS, Calif. – Redlands City Council will consider the city manager's proposed two-year budget during its meeting on June 4.

The proposed biennial budget covers fiscal years July 2024-June 2025 and July 2025 - June 2026. Key funding categories include public safety, infrastructure improvements, community services, library services, and facilities maintenance.

The budget addresses the priorities the City Council set during a workshop held in February 2024.

Details: The fiscal year 2025 General Fund budget is set at $127.5 million, a 7.7% increase from FY 2024, according to the budget report prepared for the City Council. City Manager Charles Duggan stated in the report that this increase is driven by rising costs due to inflation, personnel expenses, continued investments in public infrastructure, and the addition of several critical positions, including five police officers.

The fiscal year 2026 General Fund budget continues these investments, with a focus on maintaining and expanding services.

Key Budget Categories

• Public Safety: Significant resources are allocated to the police and fire departments, including funding for a new Safety Hall and fire facilities. The budget also includes new police officers, including one new police sergeant and four police officers who will form a dedicated team focused on homelessness.
• Deferred maintenance: The budget addresses long-deferred maintenance needs, with investments in traffic signal maintenance, guard rail repairs, and sidewalk and ADA ramp replacements.
• Infrastructure improvements: Major investments are planned for replacing aging infrastructure, including water and wastewater pipeline replacements and enhancements to public facilities such as parks and community centers.
• Community: The budget includes funding for expanding recreational and community programs, enhancing public safety services, and addressing homelessness through Project Homekey.
• Sustainability and climate action: A new full-time position for Sustainability & Climate Action would be funded to coordinate the implementation of the City's Climate Action Plan.
• Affordable housing: The establishment of the Inclusionary Housing Fund is projected to generate $1.8 million in its first year to support the construction of affordable housing units.

Measure T Funding

Measure T, a local sales tax measure, plays a crucial role in supporting core city services. The projected Measure T sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2025 is $20.1 million, with funds allocated to police and fire department staffing, recreational programming, and various capital improvement projects. In FY 2026, the projected Measure T revenue is $20.8 million, with continued investments in public safety, infrastructure, and community services.

The budget also includes plans for significant capital expenditures, including:

• The construction of a new police department facility is expected to cost $85 million. The city intends to contribute $15 million from reserves and finance the remaining amount over 40 years.
• The construction of a new wastewater treatment plant is expected to cost $45 million and will be financed through a State Revolving Fund loan.  

Economic Outlook and Risks:

The city acknowledges the uncertainties in the economic outlook, with potential risks including persistent inflation and interest rate fluctuations. The budget is built with resilience to accommodate shifts in spending or revenues, according to the report.

The budget report also outlines projects and needs that still need to be funded. Examples include the large-scale expansion of the animal shelter, a new fire station, preventative maintenance of infrastructure, replacement of carpeting in the A. K. Smiley Library, additional sidewalk and ADA replacement, and additional park renovation and repair projects.

Moving Forward: Redlands City Council will consider the budget proposal at the upcoming meeting on Tuesday, June 4 at 6:00 pm.

The full agenda can be viewed here. Public comments can be made during the meeting at 35 Cajon Street or via the Zoom link found on the agenda.