A $627 million budget with money for beach restoration efforts, homelessness solutions and public access television received unanimous approval Wednesday from the Oceanside City Council.
The largest piece of the budget is almost $235 million in the general fund that covers everyday operations such as police and fire protection, street maintenance and recreational services. In other parts of the total are water and sewer utilities, capital improvements, and Measure X money from a temporary voter-approved half-cent sales tax.
Financial Services Director Jill Moya said Wednesday that several things were added based on suggestions City Council made during their April 30 review of the proposed spending plan.
Those additions include $500,000 taken from reserves for renovations at the city-owned Brooks Theater, $600,000 from reserves for a new, overhead “Welcome to Oceanside” sign, and $950,000 for lighting at Prince Memorial Skatepark with half of that from reserves and half from a capital projects fund.
Councilmember Peter Weiss noted the declining amount set aside for reserves and advised caution.
“In April (at the council’s budget review) there was $3.1 million surplus, and now it’s down to a $1.3 million surplus,” Weiss said. “We are spending too much money.”
Mayor Esther Sanchez also expressed concerns, noting that the outlook for federal and state grants is uncertain.
The city has several large capital projects planned that will require grants, such as the replacement of the nearly 100-year-old Pier View Way concrete approach to the municipal pier. A recent estimate placed construction at $40 million.
Sanchez also questioned the decision to include for the first time up to $250,000 in the general fund next year for KOCT, the public access television station that broadcasts City Council and Planning Commission meetings.
KOCT regularly gets what’s called “public, education and governmental” or PEG funding from a fee charged to cable subscribers. However, the station’s PEG funding has declined from $468,093 in 2018 to $269,000 in FY 2024, according to a city staff report.
City Manager Jonathan Borrego said the city is reviewing its contract with KOCT and there could be changes.
“The concept is to look at the current agreement to be sure the city is getting the most value from it,” Borrego said.
“The contract is fairly old, and some parts are no longer used,” he said. “We are not committing to the full $250,000 at this time, it could be less than that. We want to get a better idea of what the city gets for its money.”
The budget includes $500,000 from Measure X to advance the city’s beach sand replenishment projects. Measure X is a half-cent sales tax that Oceanside voters in 2024 extended through 2036. Millions of dollars in grants will be needed for construction.
Also funded by Measure X in the new fiscal year is up to $1.25 million to cover a contract with the operator of the city’s 50-bed homeless shelter known as the Oceanside Navigation Center.
