Budget and Finance
RISK OF EXPIRING FUNDING: Percentage of General Fund Discretionary spending supported by one-time funding
Current Value
7.8%
Definition
Got the numbers from Owen.
I rounded the numbers to just one decimal point to make the graphic easier to read.
Why Is This Important?
City funds are categorized as ongoing or one-time. Ongoing funds are tied to recurring revenue sources, such as property taxes. One-time funds are tied to revenue sources that will not be available again in the future, such as grants.
This measure reflects the portion of program funding that comes from one-time-only sources, which may not be available in subsequent years. Ideally, the City uses one-time funding for one-time events or programs, with the understanding that no additional funding will be needed in the future.
If programs that need ongoing funding are paid for with one-time money from the General Fund, they might have to shut down later or take money away from other programs in the next budget. The more the General Fund depends on one-time money, the greater the risk of running out of funds in the future.
What Do The Numbers Show?
When the pandemic began, the City anticipated financial challenges and reduced one-time spending to near zero, tightening the General Fund Discretionary Budget. However, revenues did not decline as much as expected, leading to increased one-time funding in subsequent budget years. This was particularly evident in FY 2022-23, when one-time funding accounted for nearly 14% of the budget.
In recent years, however, rising inflation has caused expenses to grow faster than revenue, prompting the City to consider cuts to the General Fund Discretionary Budget for FY 2025-26. Programs and services relying on one-time funding may need to find new funding sources or face reductions. Alternatively, the City might need to reallocate ongoing funding, traditionally used for other programs, to support these services.
How Did We Arrive at These Numbers?
The data is derived from each fiscal year’s adopted budget, showing the percentage of the general fund discretionary budget allocated to one-time funding versus ongoing funding.
Where Can I Find More Information?
For more information about the budgeting process and the general fund discretionary budget visit City Budget Office's website.
For the most recent adopted budget, see 2024-2025 Adopted Budget.
Read the Comprehensive Financial Management Policies that guide the budgeting process.
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