The Goleta City Council reviewed the city’s preliminary two-year budget Tuesday evening, with a focus on funding for the Goleta Valley Library, pavement rehabilitation projects, and the Measure B sales tax increase.

The city expects to spend $46.3 million from the General Fund for the 2023-24 fiscal year, which starts in July, and $49.2 million the next year, according to a budget report.

Some of the city’s revenue sources include the transient occupancy tax, sales tax, property tax, the cannabis business tax, licenses and service charges, and the voter-approved sales tax increase. Measure B will increase the rate 1% to 8.75% starting Jan. 1, 2024.

Goleta is projecting about $5.3 million from increased rate in the 2023-24 fiscal year, and approximately $10.6 million annually, beginning with the first full fiscal year in 2024-25.

Some of the projects and programs that Measure B is slated to fund over the next two years include public health, safety and infrastructure programs; parks, recreation, creeks and sustainability; jobs, economy and housing programs; the Goleta Valley Library and the Goleta Valley Community Center.

One of the projects on the Measure B funding list is the San Jose Creek Channel Fish Passage Improvement Project, which the city is required to do in order to obtain a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to move forward with the Eckwill-Fowler and Hollister Avenue Bridge Project and channel widening.

Some councilmembers and a public commenter expressed concern about using Measure B funds for an already-required project.

“We were disappointed to see that Measure B funds would be allocated for a creek project the city is required to do under its permits, rather than projects that go above and beyond the bare minimum required. Measure B funding should fund voluntary creek and watershed projects,” said Brian Trautwein with the Environmental Defense Center during the meeting’s public comment period.

“When voting for Measure B, the voters did not think they were increasing taxes just so the city could implement required creek project to comply with permits. Instead, voters intended to fund voluntary, proactive creek and watershed management projects that really advance creek management in the city.”

The council directed staff to look into shifting funding for this project to come from the General Fund and to instead fund a voluntary creek and watershed management project with Measure B funds.

The council did say creek and watershed management projects are a priority, and Councilmember Stuart Kasdin even suggested creating a new staff position for someone to coordinate these programs and funding.

Mayor Paula Perotte added that the city needs to create some kind of outline for creek and watershed management.

“I think it’s important that we have some person to have that assigned and have the ability and time to do it,” Kasdin said. “Somebody who has the time to write grants — there is money available, as I understand, for a lot of these sorts of projects — and having somebody who has the time to write grants only benefits us more.”

The City Council also discussed funding for the Goleta Valley Library and Book Van.

City Manager Robert Nisbet said that the total budget for the library comes to about $2.3 million, with 55% of that funding coming from city sources and 45% from county sources.

Some changes to the Library Book Van service will also be coming, as grant funding ends June 30.

The Book Van currently serves Isla Vista, but starting in July, the city proposes allocating $50,000 for the Book Van to provide 10 hours of library service per week with stops throughout the Goleta Valley Library service area in the South Coast, in addition to Isla Vista.

The city’s proposed infrastructure funding includes about $4.4 million for the pavement rehabilitation program next year and $6 million for the 2024-25 budget. 

According to the staff presentation, funding sources for this program come from the General Fund, gas tax, Measure A, and more.

Since what was reviewed Tuesday is a preliminary budget, it is still in the development process and changes will still be made with input from City Council members, according to city staff.

The recommended budget will be finalized and presented again for final adoption in June.