Wasco council reaffirms FY26–27 budget, adopts Gann limit and amends salary schedule

The Wasco City Council unanimously approved a set of routine fiscal items at its July 6 meeting: reapproval of the city’s FY 2026–27 annual operating budget and five‑year capital improvement program for posting, adoption of the city’s annual appropriations limit (Gann limit), and adoption of an amended salary schedule required for CalPERS reporting.

Finance staff told the council the city’s calculated appropriations limit for fiscal year 2026–27 is $35,800,000, while appropriations subject to that limit total $5,900,000, leaving the city approximately $29,900,000 below the constitutional ceiling. The council adopted the recommended method for annual adjustment and approved the related resolution.

On personnel matters, HR staff presented an amended salary schedule that incorporates a 4.25% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) extended to certain non‑represented public‑safety groups, director‑level and middle‑management classifications and confidential employees outside represented bargaining units. Staff said the schedule provides the current and proposed ranges and will be posted to comply with CalPERS transparency requirements. The council voted to adopt the resolution approving the amended salary schedule.

Earlier in the meeting staff presented the city’s annual vacancy report under Assembly Bill 2561. The report noted 11 vacancies among 125 budgeted full‑time positions (an 8.8% vacancy rate) at the time the FY 26–27 budget was adopted, and that the city had filled a senior dispatcher, a police officer and an animal control officer since then. Staff recommended the council receive and file the report, and the council adopted that resolution unanimously.

Votes at a glance

• Receive and file AB 2561 vacancy report — Motion by Council member Medina; second by Mayor Saldanha; outcome: unanimously approved.

• Reapprove FY 2026–27 budget for posting — Motion and unanimous approval.

• Adopt FY 2026–27 appropriations (Gann) limit — Motion and unanimous approval.

• Adopt amended FY 2026–27 salary schedule (posting for CalPERS) — Motion and unanimous approval.

Staff described the items as routine and necessary for compliance and posting; no fiscal changes to the adopted budget were reported in the staff presentations.