Solana Beach City Council approves mid-year budgetary adjustments

The Solana Beach City Council approved some routine mid-year budget adjustments for the 2024 fiscal year during its April 10 meeting.

The budget, adopted in June 2023, originally projected about $24.47 million in revenue and a little more than $24 million in expenditures, with a net surplus of about $414,000.

With additional expenditures that have been approved since the budget was adopted, including engineering survey services and an e-bike educational program, the net surplus as of March was projected to be about $265,200 for the fiscal year. Following the council’s vote, the net surplus is up to about $946,000.

There was an increase of about $702,000 to general fund revenues, based in part on property and sales taxes so far. There has also been a larger-than-expected amount of taxes from short-term rentals, which includes properties that are rented through sites such as Airbnb.

There is also an increase of about $21,000 for general fund expenditures.

In addition, there were a series of changes to salaries and benefits to city employees that amounted to an overall reduction of about $104,871. As a result of vacancies, there were decreases of $145,000 from the fire department, $52,500 from the Planning Department and $30,000 from the Environmental Services Department.

The Marine Safety Department received an additional $98,000 for possible promotions and retirement payouts, the Clerk’s Office received an additional $83,000 for a retirement payout, and various smaller amounts were allocated to other departments for increases in expenditures.

The council vote was 4-0, with City Councilmember Jill MacDonald absent.