Measure E expenditures detailed in Elk Grove's fiscal year 2024 budget

When the Elk Grove City Council unanimously approves the city's fiscal year 2024 budget tonight, they will also support a spending plan for sales tax revenues generated by November 2022 voter-approved Measure E. The budget, which will become effective July 1, must be balanced by state law.

The budget forecast Measure E revenues, which are generated by a one percent sales tax purchase of consumer goods, of $22.5 million in 2024, with $4.5 million transferred to reserves for unspecified uses. Of the remaining $18 million, $6.5 million or 37.5 percent is allocated to the Cosumnes Community Services District. The CCSD will use $4.5 million for fire protection and $2.25 million for parks and recreation.

The city will use the remaining $11.5 million as follows:

The largest share of the remaining $11.25 million will be for the police department. Along with adding 11 officers in various classifications, three dispatchers, and two mental health clinicians, the $4.5 million will include new technological additions to law enforcement efforts accentuated by purchasing a so-called first responding drone. 

According to the budget report, the $300,000 drone first responder "program will provide real-time video intelligence overhead calls for service, typically before ground resources arrive on the scene." The program will have four pre-positioned drones and will be remotely operated. 

To address homelessness, $1.55 million of the $2.02 million will be spent to provide interim shelter, which could include hotel vouchers. The city will also hire a homeless navigator to provide services to clients seeking assistance. 

The Elk Grove Police and the Cosumnes Community Fire Department will receive 50 percent of the Measure E revenue in the next fiscal year. Each department will receive $4.5 million. 

One category receiving a relatively small allocation is road maintenance, which has often been a low priority of the city. This category has been budgeted only $1.59 million.  

Interestingly, the city's economic development department will receive $1.275 million for a hodge-podge of programs, including $250,000 for the so-called Elk Grove Tech Hub to assist. One of the programs of particular interest to Elk Grove City Councilmember Sergio Robles is $200,000 in incentives for breweries and restaurants.

When he ran for office last year, Robles said recruiting more breweries in Elk Grove's District 4 was a top legislative priority.    

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