DINUBA – The city of Dinuba is maintaining its community-focused conservative budgeting approach as it prepares to enter the 2026-27 fiscal year.
After holding multiple workshops in May, Administrative Services Director Karina Solis presented the final recommended budget to the Dinuba City Council June 9. With little discussion, the council voted 4-0 to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, with Councilmember Kuldip Thusu absent and Vice Major Benjamin Prado joining remotely.
“I’d like to thank Karina and all her team and administrative staff for putting the diligent work in bringing us solvent, keeping track of our expenses, and letting us know when we’re just pushing the limit,” Councilmember Linda Launer said. “It takes a lot of time and effort to be able to do this and also to take the opportunity to invest so that we have a future. It’s a job done well.”
Solis thanked City Manager Luis Patlan for his support and guidance throughout the process. She said putting together the budget was more difficult this year than in the past because the city is in a deficit and had gotten used to not being in one. Despite the challenge, Solis said the work from city staff and support from the council made it all come together.
General fund challenges
The deficit Solis spoke of is an approximately $633,000 difference between budgeted expenses and revenues in the city’s general fund. Compared with years’ past, the nearly $20.3 million in general fund revenues is a slight decrease, while the $20.9 million in general fund expenses is a more significant increase.
The decrease in revenues can be attributed to an anticipated decline in development-related activity and the fees collected from that, as well as a loss of some online sales tax following the city’s settlement with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
Expenses in the general fund are higher due to cost of living adjustments provided to city employees over the last year, Solis said, plus increases in liability and property insurance rates and general inflation costs.
While the deficit does mean the city has to be more cautious in its budget allocations, Solis said Dinuba is still in a strong position regarding its general fund reserves, which are projected to be $30 million.
The general fund is the city’s primary account, which funds most city services. In 2026-27, a bulk of the general fund expenses will go toward public safety, including 41%, or $8.5 million, to the police department, and 12%, or $2.6 million, to the fire department.
Parks and community services has the next highest share of the budget at 18%, or $3.7 million. Planning and development expenses and general services each take up 10% of the budget, at nearly $2 million, and administration and administrative services take up a combined 9%, also approximately $2 million.
Capital investments
Dinuba’s budget across all fund types totals $120 million. The general fund accounts for 20% of this, special revenue funds account for 15%, internal services account for 7% and debt service accounts for 3%. Enterprise funds, which track expenses for utility services, account for 21% of the city’s total budget at approximately $24.7 million.
The fund category with the largest share of all, however, keeps track of the city’s capital projects, coming in at $41.2 million, or 33%.
Solis said Dinuba is “highly focused” on continued road maintenance and safety projects but is also looking into improvements to the Dinuba Sportsplex, Delgado Park renovations and enhancements to the Ridge Creek Golf Course.
While much of the total capital projects budget reflects grant funds that are carried over from previous years, the city budget report notes that more than $5.3 million is for new capital projects in 2026-27.
Dinuba’s full 2026-27 budget detail can be found on the city website under the finance department page.
