Benicia’s fiscal budget is on the agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting.

On June 27, the council adopted the biennial budget for the fiscal year of 2017-19. Staff presented council revenue and expenditure adjustments to the budget for the fiscal year of 2017-18 in December. The mid-year progress report, which will be presented tonight, will showcase updated budget information associated with the General Fund and all funds for both fiscal years.

Several changes will be made to the amended budget, such as including updates to various revenue projections and to various expenditure categories, including moving all Marina revenues and expenses into a separate enterprise fund rather than accounting for them in the General Fund for the fiscal year 2018-19.

According to staff, the council’s adoption of the amended budgets, the 2017-18 and 2018-19 General Fund budgets will be $43,774,811 and $42,774,394 with the total budgets for All Funds for 2017-18 and 2018-19 will be $94,802,385 and $76,286,221.

In other business, if the council approves the fiscal budget for 2018-19, they will then begin will discuss the various funding of city projects through Measure C.

Measure C is a local sales tax measure approved by voters in 2014. On April 15, 2015, the tax went into effect. As opposed to a specific tax, Measure C is general tax and the monies collected are not restricted. The City Council may allocate any funds collected by Measure C as they desire.

A variety of projects have been completed under the first round of Measure C funding, including the replacement of two fire engines, replacing police vehicle cameras, renovating the playground at Benicia Community Park and replacing the railing at the First Street Promenade. Eight projects have been proposed for the second round of Measure C funding: removing the roof and repainting the Benicia Public Library, replacing the Francesca Terrace Park playground, installing security cameras at four areas throughout town, replacing the gazebo in City Park, conducting a needs assessment for the police station, a Park Road reconstruction project, adding surface slot drains on St. Augustine Court and resurfacing and repairing various streets. Of these, the security camera and St. Augustine projects have been completed. The remaining projects are expected to begin at some point in 2018.

Staff recommends the council adopt the proposed resolution allocating unprogrammed Measure C funds to new programs and projects.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in a closed session to discuss legal matters. The regular meeting will start at 7 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 250 East L St. A live stream of the council meeting can also be found online at ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.

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