The numbers are still coming in but it appears declining sales tax dollars will affect how much money is spent in coming years on Woodland parks, roads, public safety, and economic development as part of the Measure F spending plan.

A more detailed report will be presented to the Woodland City Council in December, but this past week, Kim McKinney, the city’s administrative services director, reported “significant adjustments” had to be made for sales tax revenue forecasts.

The report was one of two concerning voter-approved spending plans involving sales tax revenues. The council also heard how Measure R revenues were being allocated for the coming fiscal year.

Measure R has an eight-year lifespan, and its estimated revenue will total $30.9 million, with expenditures estimated at $30.57 million.

Concerning Measure F, spending for 2025-26 will total $7.008 million with $1.73 million going to city parks, $2.34 million for roads, $2.50 million for public safety and $419,023 toward economic development.

For its part, the five-member council unanimously accepted both reports and the spending plans.

Under Measure F, which was approved by voters in November 2016 and extended a ½-cent supplemental sales tax through 2028, revenues are estimated to total $88.4 million.

For fiscal year 2025-26, revenues were estimated at $7.3 million, which is consistent with the sales tax forecasts.

However, over the last year, “based on actual receipts and data provided by the consultants, the city has substantially downgraded the anticipated sales tax revenues for the current year, and has modified the forecast to reflect more moderate annual increases in revenues.”

The adjustments resulted in an overall reduction of almost $7 million over the remaining six years of Measure F.

“These reduced revenues are reflected in the updated spending plan, which remains balanced throughout the life of the plan, but allows for fewer projects to be programmed,” according to the report provided to the council.

As anticipated, under the spending plan for city parks, the money will primarily supplement park development impact fees to assist with payment of required debt service on the bonds issued in 2005 to build the Community Center and Sports Park Complexes.

“To the extent that the entire planned amount is not needed to cover debt service, additional funding has been available for priority projects in existing park facilities,” the report continues. “The bonds will be fully repaid during (fiscal year 2025-26, and the allocation in this category after that year is available for other programming.”

That includes money for the new Woodland Aquatic Center, expected to open at the end of 2025, which should cost around $715,000 annually for operations and maintenance as well as $330,000 for “programming.”

“Staff anticipate approximately $150,000-$200,000 in new revenues from the pool, which leaves a net cost of nearly $850,000 each year,” the report states.

In terms of street and road maintenance, the allocation will provide for ongoing support to maintenance as well as funding for specific road projects, which are generally also paid for through a combination of local, state and federal dollars.

Money for public safety, which goes to the police and fire departments, is primarily used for personnel such as temporary civilian staff and non-emergency services as well as some higher-level positions.

The $419,000 in economic development spending pays for a marketing and business relations specialist position and supports other administrative positions and temporary staffing.

Supplemental non-personnel allocations in support of citywide economic development efforts are included in the city’s general fund budget.