The Los Banos City Council, at its April 2 meeting, after a lengthy and detailed presentation, accepted the mid-year 2024-2025 fiscal year budget update. The council also hired Minerva “Minnie” Moreno as the new finance director and introduced seven officers who just graduated from the Fresno Police Academy.
During the mid-year budget review and revision, financial consultant Brent Kuhn explained that the city only had some minor adjustments to make. With the proposed and accepted amendments, the general fund is expected to operate at a $3 million surplus, Kuhn said. In his report, he pointed out that while the city is 58% through the fiscal year, it has only used 53% of its budget.
The city’s revenues, Kuhn said, are stable. Among a number of updates, Kuhn reported there is $291,925 less sales tax than expected so far. Kuhn explained that the “slightly lower” sales tax is a trend county-wide and that Los Banos is doing better than other cities in the county. With interest, licenses, permits, and property taxes there has been $803,199 more revenue than budgeted. Overall, with all shortfalls and surpluses accounted for, the city’s revenue is only $138,539 less than projected.
Kuhn reported on a number of other financial lines, including the increased costs of police and fire department personnel overtime and adjustments to the facilities maintenance budget. In the changes to the budget, the general fund will increase by $1,605.389.04.
“I know now why I didn’t go into numbers when I graduated from college,” Amabile joked, but he thanked Kuhn for doing “an excellent job.” Amabile added that “we are making things whole that this council felt were out of proportion.” And the mayor added that the city’s budget is being discussed with more transparency than it had been in recent years.
Following the budget presentation, City Manager Gary Brizzee gave a brief biography of the city’s newly hired finance director, Minerva “Minnie” Moreno. “She has a long and remarkable career,” Brizzee said. “Minnie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting from CSU Stanislaus.
“Her career, Brizzee added, “has included positions with the city of Modesto, the city of Patterson as the finance director, the city of Stockton as the municipal facilities finance officer and the Del Puerto Water District as the director of finance and administration.” Brizzee noted that Moreno is bilingual and has good communication skills.
Moreno then came to the podium. “I’m eager to collaborate with you,” she said, “to achieve the goals and vision outlined by this council for the residents of Los Banos, ensuring transparency and dedication in our efforts. I will always make myself available to offer clarification, explanation and education of financial matters. I am very excited to un-retire and help the city of Los Banos.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Los Banos Police Chief Ray Reyna introduced seven officers who had recently graduated from the Fresno Police Academy: Max Pugh, Joshua Tovar, Rafeal Gonzales, Rayshawn Owens, Marco Alvarado, Benjamin Silva, and Kristian Rocha. “They are the cream of the crop, they rose to the top,” Reyna said.
“One of the Fresno captains said to me, ‘I don’t know what Los Banos is doing, but Los Banos’ seven are unbelievably outstanding’ and it was very hard for the Fresno PD not to try and take them,” Reyna said.
Councilmember Deborah Lewis, who attended their graduation ceremony, said that Max Pugh won Fresno Police Academy’s Top Law Enforcement Skill Award. “I’m so proud of these young men,” Lewis said. All council members thanked them.
Also during the council meeting, Mariah Martinez, Recreation Coordinator for the Parks and Recreation Department, was awarded Employee of the Month for March.
In his report, Interim City Manager Gary Brizzee stated that there are delays at the city’s animal shelter addition, due to PG&E equipment to power the building not arriving yet. He also confirmed that at the April 16 council meeting, Caltrans will be doing a public presentation on the roundabouts proposed to be built at the Volta Road-Highway 152 and Dove Street-Highway 165 intersections.
Councilmembers congratulated Chief Reyna on his recent graduation from the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Councilmember Evan Sanders also said that the homeless encampment, “looks a whole lot better than it was.” He thanked Brizzee for his efforts on that.
Mayor Amabile, in his report, talked about how he planned to bring back ‘two-by-three’ meetings involving two city council members with three school district trustees, meetings that used to take place several years ago. He also mentioned that there are still seven city commission openings left to be filled.
