1. The draft FY2027 budget is tight, but targets near balance overall. Executive Director Michael Hagman projected roughly $1.5 million in implementation costs and about $933,000 in assessment revenue. He described the overall draft as approximately balanced after other projected revenue; the Board did not adopt a budget. Earlier mitigation-fee revenue of roughly $1.7 million has helped cash flow. The reported cash balance fell from $743,765.99 on June 30 to $504,188.82 on September 30, 2026, while 2026 groundwater fees had not yet been posted. Approximately $854,000 in loans to member agencies remains unpaid, and Hagman did not expect repayment in 2026. He discussed a possible future Proposition 218 assessment update, but no new rate was set.
2. Staff expects less revenue from overdraft charges. Hagman said growers are increasingly adjusting their operations to stay within allocations, limiting expected overdraft-fee collections. He cautioned that future revenue projections might be generous. Staff also discussed unpaid charges, tax-roll collections and outstanding liens, including roughly $97,000 associated with one landowner. Hagman projected sales of 120 acre-feet of water at $500 per acre-foot, or $60,000, and said roughly 350 acre-feet remained available.
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