At their November 3 meeting, the City Council voted to re-invest $2.6 million from Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 into long-term capital and maintenance needs, augmenting dedicated funds that have been significantly drawn down over the past two years as the City undertakes an unprecedented number of concurrent facility, park, and infrastructure improvements.
The action followed a review of FY2024-25 financial results by Finance Director Kiran Bawa. At year end, City revenues were 2% above budget and expenditures 3% below budget, leaving a General Fund balance of $9.9 million.
Consistent with City policy, $7.3 million will remain in reserve. The remaining $2.6 million will be transferred into special funds that support the City’s ongoing capital, facility, and infrastructure needs:
- $1.5 million to the Facilities Capital Fund, which finances major building projects and renovations
- $850,000 to the Equipment Replacement Fund for future vehicle and equipment purchases
- $250,000 to the Facilities Maintenance Fund for preventative maintenance and facility preservation
These transfers reflect the City’s ongoing commitments to creating healthy, vibrant public spaces and addressing aging infrastructure, while continuing to budget conservatively and maintain a healthy reserve.
Grand Ave. paving 
Beach Tot Lot
Investing in Piedmont’s infrastructure
More capital projects are underway throughout Piedmont now than at any point in memory. In addition to construction of the new community pool and 9-1-1 dispatch center – two of the largest, most complex undertakings in the City’s history – 10 additional major projects are currently under construction or in design, including:
- Linda Beach Tot Lot renovation and ADA access upgrades
- City street resurfacing project, which is creating 17 new ADA curb ramps, re-paving 10 streets, and re-striping another 32
- Storm drain upgrades at eight locations
- Installation of 4 public EV charging stations in the Civic Center
- Truss-pipe sewer repair
- Sidney & Irene Dearing Memorial
- Piedmont Park swings replacement
- Two sewer-line upgrade projects that, combined, will replace 24% of Piedmont’s aging sanity sewer system
- Pedestrian safety upgrades on Moraga Avenue
Projects completed in the past year include:
- Bicycle and pedestrian safety upgrades on Grand Avenue
- Piedmont’s first green infrastructure bioswale at Grand and Fairview
- Replacement of an aging pedestrian bridge in Piedmont Park
- New, expanded batting cages at Coaches Field
- Pathway repairs throughout Piedmont Park
- Renovation of the Linda Beach pickleball courts
Meanwhile, the City’s public buildings – many of which are over 100 years old – require increasing investments in security, utility, and safety improvements in order to meet today’s workspace and community needs. Significant facility projects in the past year include new access controls at City Hall, waterproofing at the Recreation Department, and upgraded wi-fi at Community Hall.
The City has also begun early work to develop a master plan for aging Police and Fire facilities, which no longer meet modern code standards for essential services buildings.
Maintaining stability while investing in the future
Piedmont’s financial policies require that the City maintain a General Fund reserve equal to 18% of annual operating expenses. After these capital transfers, the City’s reserve stands at 19%, even as staff deliver one of the most active capital improvement programs in City history.
Photos courtesy of the City of Piedmont