Budget Commission Questions Its Role as Measure Z Locked Through 2028

Riverside's Budget Engagement Commission is questioning its authority after learning that Measure Z funding—which commissioners are chartered to help allocate—is fully committed through 2028, leaving them unable to recommend support for nonprofits seeking city dollars.

"I hear from sources, including people on this body, that there are no Measure Z dollars available until 2028," Commissioner Pete Benavidez said during the commission's Feb. 12 meeting. "So I'm kind of confused as we solicit civic engagement to make recommendations to us when we have very little authority to make such recommendations to council."

The revelation comes as City Council prepares to decide Feb. 24 which tax measures—if any—to place before voters on the June ballot. Options include extending Measure Z beyond its 2036 sunset date or adding a new quarter-cent sales tax increase.

Measure Z currently generates $81 million-$86 million annually and funds 164 public safety positions. But the decade-old tax measure, approved by 59.64% of voters in 2016, has no funding available for the Fire Department's identified $26.1 million staffing need—or for community nonprofits seeking support.

Benavidez said he has encouraged colleagues in the nonprofit sector to attend Budget Engagement Commission meetings and make funding recommendations, fulfilling one of the commission's core duties. But those potential applicants are being told no money is available.

"I think we need some guidance more detailed to measure Z as far as moving forward so that we can bring people into this building during a meeting where they can make a recommendation to us on what they feel is needed with their taxpayer dollars," Benavidez said.

The Budget Engagement Commission's charter includes serving as a "conduit for community engagement during the budget development process" and "advising council on allocating Measure Z revenue and spending priorities."

But with Measure Z locked through 2028, commissioners are recommending how to spend money that won't exist for three years.

The commission unanimously approved its 2026 work plan Wednesday without amendments, despite the authority concerns.

City Engagement Tools Sit Idle

The meeting also revealed gaps in how the city engages residents on budget decisions.

Commissioner Scott Coe, attending his final meeting after the commission's recent restructuring, noted that Riverside has "an adopted community engagement policy."

"I would really recommend, since it's part of the charter of this commission, to help engage with budgetary items with the public that the commission look into and engage with the city staff on how the commission and city can utilize that policy and the tools within to increase engagement beyond just attending meetings," Coe said.

The city promotes a community budget survey running through Feb. 23. Deputy Finance Director Sergio Aguilar encouraged commissioners to "continue spreading the word on that budget survey so we could get as much participation and feedback on how residents and businesses within the city would like us to spend the funding and the dollars."

Context: Tax Decisions Loom

Council will make final decisions Feb. 24 on which revenue measures to pursue for the June 2 ballot, with a March 6 county filing deadline.

During the Jan. 27 council meeting where staff presented five tax options, Councilmember Chuck Conder said voters may be reaching their limit after years of tax increases.

"We both looked people in the eye and said that we think this is the last time we'll have to go the well," Conder said, referring to past Measure Z campaigns. "We are reaching that point where we may get rejected."

City Manager Mike Futrell called the current budget "strong" but said revenue measures could address "unmet needs, particularly in the fire department."

The Fire Department's master plan showed the department operates with 225 firefighters—a ratio of 0.69 per 1,000 residents compared to a national standard of 1.35. Reaching that standard would require 84 new firefighters at $26.1 million annual cost.

But Measure Z, which voters approved in 2016 with language promising to "prevent cutting police, firefighters, paramedics, 911 emergency response," has no funding available for that need—not now, and not until 2028.

Benavidez requested more detailed guidance from council on how commissioners should engage residents about Measure Z funding.

The next Budget Engagement Commission meeting is scheduled for March 12, after Council will have made its Feb. 24 decision on which tax measures to place before voters.