La Verne staff outline preliminary FY2024–25 budget and $11.5 million CIP request

City staff on Monday presented a preliminary overview of the cityudget for fiscal year 2024–25 and a five‑year capital improvement program, asking the City Council and the public for direction ahead of a June adoption cycle.

Finance and budget staff said the general fund remains the cityalendaror core services and is funded primarily by property and sales taxes. Staff projected modest revenue growth next year: property tax receipts are forecast to grow about 3% while sales tax is expected to rise slightly more than 2%, both below historical averages, and overall revenues are sensitive to housing and statewide reporting corrections.

Staff noted a material reduction in interfund transfers driven by the removal of a previously counted $1.5 million asset‑forfeiture transfer after federal guidance; that adjustment contributed to a near‑term structural gap and will affect available discretionary dollars. Departmental projections assume 2.5% increases in salary and operating costs in 24–25 as part of Measure LV planning.

Finance director Christy Lopez summarized reserves and personnel impacts: the cityegan with an estimated fund balance of about $17.8 million and maintains emergency and working capital reserves (15% and 5% benchmarks). The personnel request for the coming year would add five net positions at an estimated $776,000, with roughly $718,000 from the general fund; staff also reported 24 current vacancies (18 full‑time, six part‑time) representing an estimated $2.4 million in unfilled payroll.

Public works director Meg McWade presented the CIP overview and a request for roughly $11.5 million in next‑year appropriations, including about $7.4 million in new projects. Major items called out in staff materials included an Arrow Highway pavement rehabilitation phase (estimated near $6 million for paving), pipeline and pressure‑reducing‑valve work on Ramona Avenue, upgrades to the AMI water‑metering program, EV charging analysis and initial installations at the city yard, and various ADA and facility repairs. Grants and restricted revenue sources will fund a substantial portion of projects, staff said.

Councilmembers thanked staff for the overview and asked for additional historical reserve data and the timeline for the water cost‑of‑service study. Staff replied that the city expects to award a consultant in June, that a typical study takes about 9–12 months, and that draft rates could be before council in December to begin the public hearing process ahead of a July 1 rate effective date.

What happens next: staff will finalize materials for a second study session on June 3 and bring a proposed budget to the council for adoption on June 17. The city manager said staff will continue outreach to the Measure LV committee and public stakeholders to refine assumptions and responsive options.