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CivicCause budget overview

Menlo Park Budget

FY2025-26 Adopted/current baseline with FY2026-27 proposed, not adopted comparison

Menlo Park's proposed FY2026-27 General Fund budget spends about $89.8M against about $88.0M in revenue. That means the proposal uses about $1.8M of fund balance while it moves through budget review.

General Fund revenue
FY2025-26 adopted/current
$78.6M
FY2026-27 proposed
$88.0M
Revenue increases in the proposed budget.
General Fund expenditures
FY2025-26 adopted/current
$79.4M
FY2026-27 proposed
$89.8M
Expenditures also increase, producing the proposed General Fund gap.
General Fund position
FY2025-26 adopted/current
-$0.8M
FY2026-27 proposed
-$1.8M
Both years use fund balance; FY2026-27 shows about a $1.8M proposed deficit.
Capital Improvement Program
FY2025-26 adopted/current
$19.7M planned + $60.1M carryover estimate
FY2026-27 proposed
66 projects; $13.0M new funding requests
Capital projects are separated from ordinary operating spending.

Department movement

General Administration
$11.1M$10.2M. Lower proposed spending.
Down
Administrative Services
$12.1M$12.1M. Flat to slight increase depending on rounding/source table.
Flat
Community Development
$11.8M$12.0M. Modest proposed increase.
Up
Library and Community Services
$19.4M$21.3M. Largest listed department increase in this preview set.
Up
Police
$28.1M$29.3M. Proposed increase.
Up
Public Works
$42.1M$43.1M. Proposed increase; keep operating and CIP context distinct.
Up

Revenue notes

  • FY2026-27 proposed property taxes are about $37.0M.
  • FY2026-27 proposed sales tax is about $7.2M.
  • FY2026-27 proposed charges for services are about $6.8M.
  • Transient occupancy tax increases are tied to Measure CC.
  • Vehicle License Fee state backfill is reduced to $0.

Expenditure notes

  • Personnel is about $52.3M, roughly 58% of General Fund expenditures.
  • The vacancy and turnover assumption moves to 10%.
  • The General CIP transfer decreases to about $3.8M to $3.9M.
  • Department budgets include about $0.7M in savings and deferrals.

CIP categories

City buildings and systemsEnvironmentParks and RecreationStormwaterStreets and sidewalksTransportationWater
FY2025-26 is shown as an adopted/current baseline, not audited actuals. FY2026-27 is proposed and pending adoption review. Capital Improvement Program values are capital planning figures and are separated from ordinary operating spending. FY2026-27 all-funds totals are not shown until a clean comparable source is reviewed.
Sources: official budget page · FY2026-27 proposed budget · FY2025-26 adopted budget book