HEMET, Calif. — The Hemet City Council on June 10, 2025 unanimously ad opted a fiscal year 2025-26 ope rating budget that grows the city’s General Fund to $60.6 million, a 21.5 percent increase over the prior year’ s amended figure of $49.9 million, acco rding to the adopted budget docu ment.
All-f und revenues total approxi mately $81.5 million, with the budget drawing roughly $4.8 million from one-time fund balance to close the gap between projected revenues and expend itures.
Tax revenues — the largest revenue source — are projected at $52.57 million, up 11.3 percent from the FY24 amended figure of $47.22 million, acco rding to the Cle arGov budget po rtal main tained by the city.
No Significant Staffing Increases
City-wide positions increased by just one full-time equivalent employee year-over-year — consisting of two temporary part-time Of fice Specialists in the Public Works department, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and approved in December 2024. No additional positions were recommended for the new fiscal yea r.
The General Fund encompasses the city’s core operations: Police, Fire, Library, Pl anning, Building, Code Compliance, Engineering, and general administration. Measure U, the voter-ap proved half-cent sales tax for public safety, operates in its own stand-alone fund (Fund 115) established in FY2021-22 for separate tracking and trans parency.
Back ground and Vote
The budget was adopted following a council workshop on March 14, 2025 and two Measure U Citizen Oversight Committee workshops. The council vote, taken at the June10 regular meeting, was 5-0 with Mayor Jackie Peterson, Mayor Pro Tem Kr upa, and Council Members Clark, Lodge, and Males all voting yes. No members abstained or were absent, acco rding to city records from that meeting.
The budget includes funding for the rehabilitation of St. John’s Place and an increase in insurance liability premiums, both approved by the council during budget adoption.
This is a developing story. The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle will continue to report on city spending and Measure U oversight throughout the fiscal year.
Sources:
FY25-26 Adopted Budget — ClearGo v Digital Budget Book
FY25-26 Adopted Budget (PDF)
Resolution 2025-072 (Youth Council, same meeting vote rec ord)
