Title
Hold a public hearing to consider approving and adopting the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Fiscal Year 2025-26 Recommended Budget.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
Hold a public hearing to review the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Fiscal Year 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27) Recommended Budget (Budget) for the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (Agency) totals $48,686,681 in expenses and $43,352,545 in revenue, reflecting a 12 percent increase in expenses and a 10 percent in revenue from the prior year. FY27 expenditure exceeds anticipated revenue by $5,334,136. The deficit will be funded through use of available fund balances.
The Budget funds 45 of the Agency’s 57 authorized positions and includes $10.0 million for salaries and benefits. Cost of consultant and contractor services rises to $23.4 million, while insurance costs decrease to $1.6 million. Debt service and related transfers total $7.8 million.
On the revenue side, the Budget includes $17.9 million in assessments, $3.7 million in Ad Valorem taxes, $4.1 million from Water Delivery charge and Service charges, $1.5 million from program revenue, and $8.8 million in grants. Despite these increases, expenditure exceeds revenues by $5.3 million, which will require use of fund balances.
The public hearing for the Agency’s FY27 Budget is on a different date from the County of Monterey’s budget hearing. This timing will allow the public to engage specifically in MCWRA’s budget and increase opportunities for public participation.
Notices of the public hearing has been published for two consecutive weeks in the Monterey County Weekly prior to the public hearing date.
Staff will bring this item back for approval and adoption of a resolution on June 16, 2026.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff worked with Monterey One Water for Fund 131 ...
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