Camarillo, California – The Camarillo City Council unanimously approved an operationally balanced $134.7 million annual budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24, at the City Council meeting on June 28, 2023. The budget focuses on City Council priorities which include maintaining high service levels for Camarillo residents, a strategic focus on climate action and sustainability, continual process improvement, and continuum of care.

“The City remains in a healthy financial position and is very well positioned after contending with the record inflation over the past year,” shared Finance Director Mark Uribe. “The FY 2023/24 budget supports the delivery of City services at the elevated levels that residents have come to expect.”

The highlights of the City’s adopted FY 2023/24 budget are summarized below.

Police Services: $19.7 Million. Public safety is a vital aspect of Camarillo’s overall quality of life. The adopted budget reflects the cost related to the annual contract from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office with no change in the high level of service currently provided to the Camarillo community.

Library Operations: $3.3 Million. The library operations budget reflects the annual contract for library operations, which includes the new outsourcing of information technology services and costs related to library books and materials. The City continually strives to enhance library services and improve the customer experience.

Community Service Grants and Community Support: The City Council awarded grants totaling $51,517 to community service organizations for programs that directly benefit the community. In addition, the budget includes an appropriation of $424,137 to continue support of annual community events in FY 2023/24 such as Camarillo Wings Association, Summer Concerts at the Park, Fourth of July Fireworks Show, Camarillo Heritage Days in Old Town, and the Holiday Parade.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program: The City received $500,876 in CDBG federal funding allocation for FY 23/24. These allocations support programs for seniors and youths, and housing rehabilitation programs.

Citywide Lighting, Landscape & Street Maintenance: $6.1 Million. Additional maintenance supports street median and tree maintenance, weed control, and storm drain maintenance throughout the City, in order to continue to ensure an aesthetically pleasing environment.

Planned Capital Projects: $28.4 Million. The first year of the FY 2022/27 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted on June 28, 2023, is comprised of twenty-nine (29) projects for FY 2023/24. Some of them are noted below:

• Transportation Improvements: $6.5 Million. Several projects are planned to improve City streets, including Annual Pavement Maintenance Program, Las Posas Road Widening to six lanes, Pleasant Valley Road Bike Lane Project, Central Avenue Bike Lane Project, and Utility Undergrounding Project.

• Water System Improvements: $4.7 Million. Various projects are planned, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Water System Generator Replacements, and Well E and F Improvements. 

• Sewer System Improvements: $10.5 Million. Various projects are planned including Chemical System Improvements, Conejo Creek Bank Repair, Dawson Drive to Metrolink Station Sewer, Lewis Road to Flynn Road Sewer, Wastewater System Generator Replacement and Phase I of the Water Reclamation Plant Upgrades.

• Storm Drain Projects: $520,000. Stormwater Trash Compliance project.

• Building and Grounds Improvements: $6.3 Million. Various projects are planned, including Dizdar Park Renovation and Expansion, City Hall Council Chamber Remodel, Police Facility upgrades, City Hall HVAC Replacement, Roof Restoration and Interior Lighting upgrades, Corporation Yard facility upgrades.

The City’s Adopted FY 2023/24 budget can be viewed on the City’s website: cityofcamarillo.org/budgets.

One of the Camarillo City Council’s FY 2023/24 Goals is to maintain sound and conservative financial practices to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the City.

To learn more about the City’s budget and finances, visit Financial Transparency on the City’s website: cityofcamarillo.org/engagecamarillo.