Martinez Council Confronts $1.9M Budget Gap

The Martinez City Council met for a special budget workshop that stretched nearly three hours, revealing a structural deficit that has grown by more than a third since April — and a financial system transition that means the final number could shift significantly before the June 24 adoption deadline. The council also unanimously installed a veteran finance hand to steer the city through the crunch.

• $1.9 million projected deficit in the FY 2026-27 General Fund budget, up from $1.4 million in April, with $1M in contingency still uncertain due to the MUNIS software transition

• Council unanimously appoints Andrea Miller as Interim Finance Director, filling a critical vacancy during the budget cycle

• OPEB trust tapped for the first time since 2008: Council directs $1.2M annual drawdown from the $18.2M retiree medical trust to preserve General Fund reserves

• Downtown security showdown: Council debates keeping the $102K private security contract vs. a city-employed alternative as public safety concerns mount

• $335K in capital projects approved, including a contested $150K tennis court conversion that split the council 3-2

• Pacheco Transit Hub exit: Council signals it wants out of the deteriorating, city-branded transit facility sitting in unincorporated territory

The council voted 5-0 to appoint Andrea Miller as Interim Finance Director under Government Code Section 21221(h), which allows CalPERS retirees to return to work in critical positions without reentering the retirement system.