A new $2.6 million aerial ladder fire truck, more police officers and the return of Sunday hours at two city libraries are in Carlsbad’s proposed fiscal 2025-26 budget.
Also, the City Council agreed unanimously Tuesday to add a one-time appropriation of $75,000 to increase maintenance of the city’s growing system of pedestrian trails, and to reconsider money allocated to build a roundabout at Kelly Drive and Park Drive. The budget returns for final approval June 17 and the fiscal year begins July 1.
The $243 million balanced budget is a 1.8% increase from fiscal 2024-25. Property tax revenue, the largest single source of income, is projected to be up 3.3% from the previous year, and sales tax revenue, the second-largest source, down by 2.6%.
“This budget makes targeted investments in public safety, sustainability, infrastructure, community character and the efficiency of our organization all while boosting our reserves to prepare Carlsbad for any uncertainly in the future,” City Manager Geoff Patnoe told the City Council.
The spending plan also increases the city’s general fund reserves to $147 million, equal to 61% of the amount in the operating budget. The total is up from last year’s level of 55%, and well above the 40% reserve required.
The proposed budget includes money to hire six more Police Department employees approved by the City Council in March.
The department requested three patrol officers, a traffic and special events sergeant, an internet crimes against children detective, and a digital forensics specialist. The positions will help the department reduce overtime and improve the quality of life for employees, Police Chief Christie Calderwood said in March.
Several residents asked the council to allocate more money for the completion and maintenance of the city’s system of pedestrian trails covering about 67 miles. In particular, they pushed for the construction of trails long planned for San Diego Gas & Electric Co.’s Hub Park property on the southern shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Carlsbad has leased the 96 acres from SDG&E since 1975, but it remains off-limits to the public.
The City Council allocated more than $700,000 to start work on the Hub Park trails in its 2021 capital improvement budget. About $230,000 of that has been spent so far on planning and design, said Gary Barberio, deputy city manager for community services. An undetermined additional amount will be needed for construction.
Barberio cautioned against proceeding with the Hub Park trails until SDG&E gets environmental clearance and approval from the state Public Utilities Commission for the required easements, which could take three years or longer.
“There is no guarantee that it will be approved by the PUC, so spending money today on that condition is problematic,” Barberio said.
Instead, the council unanimously agreed to a one-time allocation of $75,000 for the maintenance and improvement of existing trails in open areas such as Calavera Hills and Rancho La Costa.
The council also agreed unanimously to a request by Mayor Keith Blackburn to reconsider a roundabout proposed for the intersection of Park Drive and Kelly Drive. The fiscal 2025-26 budget includes $1 million for “complete street” improvements that include the roundabout.
Blackburn said he’s received a lot of negative about the proposed change to the intersection. He suggested the council consider other options such as “just a normal intersection” before including the money in next year’s budget.
Last month, the council voted unanimously to stop a years-old plan to replace traffic signals with a roundabout at the coastal intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue that many residents opposed.
Instead, the council authorized minor improvements to the intersection that will cost about $2 million instead of building the $19 million roundabout.
The council also plans to review later this year a still unbuilt roundabout approved for the Carlsbad Boulevard intersection at Cannon Road. Like Tamarack, Cannon is a three-way intersection with traffic lights.
