Making Sense of La Verne's Budget: Deficits, Priorities and Tough Choices
Plus the latest counts from the June 2 primary election.
Good morning, neighbors! This issue is dense. You may want to refill your coffee cup.
I've spent a lot of time diving into La Verne's proposed budget, and I'll admit it: municipal finance is not always the easiest thing to untangle. But the deeper I've gone, the more I'm reminded how important it is to understand where the City's money comes from, where it goes and how those decisions affect everything.
In this week's Civic Brief, I'm sharing what I've learned so far, along with a few key pieces of context that can help make the numbers a little easier to understand. Plus, I'm excited to unveil an election map that shows how La Verne voted in the June 2 primary.
As always, if you have questions, send them my way. Chances are, you're not the only one wondering.
Staci
Key Takeaways From the June 1 La Verne City Council Meeting
An e-bike ordinance with one dissenting vote, a closer look at how La Verne funds paramedic services, community events on the budget table, and a new police contract.
Read More
Staci Baird
La Verne Business Buzz: Espresso Yourself, La Verne—More Business News Is Percolating 🐝
Every Thursday, I’ll round up the latest business openings, closings and retail rumblings around La Verne. This feature is for paid subscribers only (You can get access to this content and our full twice-weekly newsletters for as little s $5/month!) Check out this week's La Verne Business Buzz here ➡️
By the Numbers: How the Local Votes Stack Up
A closer look at how La Verne voters cast their ballots in the June 2 primary election.
Staci Baird
Understanding La Verne's Budget Gap
The decisions made in the coming weeks will determine how the City maintains long-term financial stability while balancing community expectations.
City Manager Ken Domer will present a proposed budget at the June 15 City Council meeting.
La Verne is heading into fiscal year 2026-27 with a projected structural budget gap of approximately $233,629. A structural gap means ongoing revenues are not keeping pace with ongoing expenses and requires deliberate action to close.
That's what Finance Director Christy Lopez and City Council were wrestling with in both the May 18 budget session and the June 1 follow-up. The concern is that plugging it with one-time reserves buys time but doesn't fix the underlying problem.
