Twentynine Palms council approves midyear budget revisions, 3.1% COLA and fee updates

The Twentynine Palms City Council on a 5–0 vote approved midyear revisions to the city’s FY 2026–27 general fund budget, a 3.1% cost-of-living adjustment for employees and a set of interfund transfers and fee-schedule changes staff said were required to balance the second year of the city’s two-year budget.

Finance staff presented the revisions as necessary to reflect updated revenue estimates and rising costs, most notably a higher contract cost for law-enforcement services. Abigail, the finance presenter, told the council the sheriff’s contract increase was now about 7.4% (roughly $429,000 higher than the current year) after the county provided a one-time subsidy that trimmed an earlier 10% preliminary increase by $126,000. The staff presentation said law enforcement, salaries and benefits make up about 73% of operating expenditures.

The budget motion (Resolution No. 2612) also included a 3.1% wage-scale increase for FY 2026–27, and a package of one-time transfers totaling $282,000 that staff described as: $160,000 to the capital projects fund for self-funding, $50,000 for playground equipment, $40,000 for CDBG project management, $15,000 for parks maintenance equipment, and $17,000 to seed future street-sweeper acquisition. Staff said the city expects an unassigned fund balance of about $12 million at year-end for emergencies and one-time costs.

Council members pressed staff on potential state pension-law changes (AB 1383) and the possible fiscal impact; Abigail estimated a change in pension formula could raise annual retirement costs on the order of $100,000–$150,000, depending on final legislation and bargaining outcomes.

On the consent agenda the council approved routine items and then separately approved amendments to the master citywide user fee schedule to reflect a 3.1% CPI update for most local fees (excluding state-mandated fees, sewer and solar fees) and several administrative adjustments (for example converting adult-sports fees from a per-team to a per-player rate and aligning the summer day camp length with the school district calendar).

The council also approved subcommittee recommendations to allocate $50,000 in contributions to three local nonprofit organizations: $25,000 to 29 Palms Community Food Pantry and Outreach Ministries, Inc.; $15,000 to Reachout Morongo Basin; and $10,000 to Animal Action League.

All formal votes recorded during the meeting were unanimous (5–0). Abigail told the council that although the budget shows a $195,000 SLEF (Supplemental Local Law Enforcement Fund) line, those dollars are grant revenue offset by a corresponding expense line and that any sheriff request over $25,000 would still require a separate council approval.

The council introduced and approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 328 to raise council-member monthly compensation to $700 (effective after the November 2026 election). That ordinance will return for a subsequent reading and final adoption before it takes effect.

The council adjourned after brief city-manager remarks and no additional action on the numerous public-records and surveillance concerns raised during public comment.