Vice-Mayor Thom Bogue said that there was no reason to maintain the Public Benefit Fund as a separate fund “since it just goes into the General Fund” to cover staff salaries. Photo courtesy of City of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - At the June 3 Dixon City Council meeting, City Council considered a resolution to approve the annual budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Across all city funds, Finance Director Kate Zawadzki said, the proposed budget includes $73.6 million in revenues and transfers and $60.6 million in expenditures and appropriations.

Looking specifically at the General Fund, Zawadzki said, revenues are expected to total $33 million with expenditures totaling $34 million. However, there will be approximately $500,000 in savings from delayed hiring for current vacancies.

In General Fund revenues, Zawadzki said, sales taxes are expected at $15 million, which is an increase from $12.2 million last fiscal year. The $3.1 million in additional revenue is coming from the Public Benefit Fund, a 1% sales tax increase approved by voters in Nov. 2024. That extra funding will cover public safety staffing in the fire and police departments.

In the enterprise funds, the Wastewater Fund revenues exceed expenses but expenses are higher than revenues in the Water Fund. Zawadzki said that is due to capital projects and the extra will be paid out of reserves.

The budget must be adopted by the end of June and then it can be adjusted by council approval throughout the fiscal year, if needed.

Vice-Mayor Thom Bogue said that there was no reason to maintain the Public Benefit Fund as a separate fund “since it just goes into the General Fund” to cover staff salaries. 

Councilmember Don Hendershot said having a separate fund provides transparency about where those funds are being spent.

Bogue said that the fund title is “misleading,” because the name implies the funding would cover one-time costs that benefit the public. A separate fund, Bogue said, requires additional staff time and labor to manage the accounting.

Zawadzki said it doesn’t add any staff time and Councilmember Kevin Johnson said it’s important to know how much funding is being collected through that tax. 

The council voted 4-0 to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget, with Councilmember Jim Ernest absent. 

Community Development Director Raffi Boloyan gave a presentation about development activity in the city, reviewing various projects and where they are in the permitting process.

Hendershot asked about the park planned at the Homestead development. Boloyan said that the park is a city obligation, since that land will be deeded to the City of Dixon. Based on the amenities specified in the park master plan, Boloyan said that the estimated cost for that park is higher than what the city can currently afford.

City attorney Douglas White said residents often oppose various development projects and ask why the city even considers them.

“I think it’s important for the public to know when someone turns in a project application, we have a legal obligation to go through it,” White said. “We can’t just reject them and not process them.”

Johnson asked about the status of the new fire station and City Manager Lindley said it is currently in the design phase.

“The funding plan is coming together well,” Lindley said. “It looks like probably the middle of next year, we’ll have enough funding to move forward with it and not issue any debt.”

A resident spoke during public comment about weed abatement issues in a ditch near his property along Pitt School Road.

The resident said the drainage ditch was put in by the city, making it a city responsibility. He said that it is rarely maintained, making it a fire hazard.

Another resident in that area said that she often clears the weeds out of the drainage ditch along her property and it shouldn’t be her responsibility. She said the city would impose a fine if she allowed weeds to get out of control on her own land but they aren’t properly managing their own section.

Dixon City Manager Jim Lindley said staff will investigate the issue.

The next Dixon City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17.