2025/26 Budget Approved
Balanced, Responsible and Forward Looking
Hello Positive People,
In June, we shared good news: Sausalito ended the last fiscal year with a $700,000 surplus, thanks to strong cost controls and higher-than-expected revenues. We continue to maintain a $5.5 million emergency reserve, 25% of our General Fund budget.
Every year, independent external auditors review the city’s finances. The auditors review things like our balances, transfers, and internal financial controls looking for issues and suggesting improvements. Last year’s audit came back with a clean bill of health, our first “no findings” audit since 2013/14, a rare achievement. The 2024/25 audit is happening now and due to be completed around January.
On June 17, the City Council adopted the FY 2025/26 budget in a 4–1 vote (Cox, Woodside, Sobieski, and Blaustein in favor; Hoffman opposed). The newly published budget confirms:
Balanced budget for FY 2025/26
Additional $11 million investment in infrastructure
$10 million in emergency reserves
$5.5M set aside for economic stability
$4.5M unassigned and available for flexibility
We’re especially grateful to Interim Finance Director Jesus Nava, who stepped in this spring during a pivotal moment for the city. A seasoned municipal finance expert, Mr. Nava brings decades of public sector leadership experience, including ten years as Chief Financial Officer for the City of Burlingame, Deputy City Manager for San Jose, Assistant City Manager for Oxnard, and City Manager of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas. His deep expertise has been invaluable in preparing this budget and helping ensure a smooth transition for Sausalito.
We must continue to be thoughtful and careful in managing our budget, and we applaud the city’s commitment to infrastructure. To sustain this investment over the long term, we must also strengthen Sausalito’s economic foundation. Projects like the Pocket Inn and Restaurant add vibrancy to our downtown while generating much-needed tax revenue. Housing efforts like Bridgeway Commons not only help meet local housing needs, they also grow our property tax base.
We’ll continue to support thoughtful, forward-looking projects that bring life to our town and help us fund the infrastructure improvements Sausalito needs and deserves.
More to come when this year’s audit is complete (around January), and thank you for staying engaged. As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions.
Warmly,
Adrian
Positive People for Sausalito
