Budget glossary

Assembly Bill 1290 — a 1993 law about how redevelopment 'pass-through' payments are calculated.

Association of Bay Area Governments — the council of governments for the nine-county Bay Area.

Alcoholic Beverage Control — California's alcohol regulatory department; also administers small grants to local law enforcement.

Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — the City's audited annual financial statement.

What the City actually spent or received, after the fiscal year closed and was audited.

The budget as approved by the City Council, usually in June, for the upcoming fiscal year.

Accessory Dwelling Unit — a smaller second residential unit on a single-family lot.

Automated License Plate Reader — fixed and mobile cameras that capture vehicle plates for investigations.

Bay Area Regional Energy Network — a regional energy efficiency program administered by ABAG.

A historically Black and Latino neighborhood in the eastern part of Menlo Park, separated from the rest of the city by U.S. 101.

Donations and grants raised specifically for the Belle Haven Community Campus, restricted to that project.

Money the City collects from developers under its Below-Market-Rate (BMR) program, restricted to funding affordable housing.

Below Market Rate — housing units sold or rented at below-market prices to income-qualified households.

A formal plan for how the City expects to receive and spend money during a fixed period (the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30).

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report — older name for the ACFR.

The portion of the City's pension obligation that exceeds the current value of pension fund assets — owed to the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

Spending on durable physical assets (buildings, equipment, vehicles, infrastructure).

Funds that pay for capital improvements (large infrastructure projects with multi-year lifecycles).

Unspent appropriation that is re-budgeted into the next fiscal year, typically for multi-year capital projects.

Community Development Block Grant — federal HUD funding distributed through local entitlement jurisdictions for low- and moderate-income community needs.

California Energy Commission — the state's primary energy policy and planning agency, administering energy efficiency and electrification grants.

Fees the City charges users for specific services (recreation programs, building permits, plan check, etc.).

Capital Improvement Plan / Capital Improvement Program — the City's multi-year plan for large infrastructure projects.

The City's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts.

Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team — Menlo Park PD's mental health crisis response team with co-responding clinician.

Funds dedicated to paying principal and interest on the City's outstanding bonds and loans.

When planned expense is larger than expected revenue, leaving a gap the City must close.

Money set aside for a specific purchase order or contract, not yet spent but committed.

Funds for City operations that function like a business — fully or substantially self-funded by user charges.

An element of Menlo Park's General Plan addressing disproportionate environmental burdens on low-income communities of color.

Emergency Operations Center — the City's coordination hub during disasters and major incidents.

Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund — a property-tax shift mechanism between cities and school districts.

Money the City spends. Examples include salaries, contracted services, materials, and capital projects.

A volunteer City advisory body that reviews the City's finances, including the investment portfolio it examines each quarter.

Menlo Park's fiscal year runs July 1 through June 30.

Fees paid to the City by private utilities (electric, gas, cable, garbage) for the right to use public rights-of-way.

The City's share of employee benefits: health insurance, retirement (CalPERS), Medicare, workers' compensation, life insurance.

Full-Time Equivalent — a single full-time employee's worth of staff time.

A separate "account" in the City's books, each meant for a specific purpose. The City has many funds, and money generally can't move freely between them.

City fund holding Transportation Impact Fees collected from new development.

City fund holding the CEC AB 179 'Communitywide Electrification' grant.

Menlo Park's General Capital Improvement Fund — receives General Fund transfers and other revenue for citywide capital projects without a dedicated funding source.

The accumulated difference between revenues and expenses for a fund over time — the fund's 'bank account' at a point in time.

General Fund money set aside for capital projects — buildings, infrastructure, and equipment — rather than day-to-day operations.

The City's main operating fund — used for general government services not restricted to a specific purpose.

Government Finance Officers Association — the professional association for U.S. state and local public finance officials.

The state-mandated plan for how the City will accommodate housing growth, including affordable units.

Money received from other governments (federal, state, county, regional).

Funds that charge other City departments for shared services (IT, fleet, facilities).

Joint Powers Board — a governing body formed by multiple public agencies to operate a shared function.

A 0.5¢ San Mateo County sales tax measure originally approved in 1988 and reauthorized in 2004 for transportation projects.

Menlo Park's $77M general obligation bond approved by voters in 2021 for facilities and infrastructure.

A 0.5¢ San Mateo County sales tax measure approved by voters in 2018 for transportation projects.

Memorandum of Understanding — a written agreement between the City and another party that does not have all the elements of a contract.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission — the Bay Area's regional transportation planning agency.

One Bay Area Grant — a regional transportation funding program administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Local law enacted by Council — distinct from a resolution. Ordinances are codified into the Menlo Park Municipal Code.

California Office of Traffic Safety — administers federal traffic safety grants to local agencies.

Peninsula Clean Energy — the Community Choice Aggregator serving San Mateo and Los Banos electric customers.

Funds the City holds on behalf of others — not the City's own money.

Property tax on land and improvements (real estate) — the City's largest single revenue source.

Property tax on business personal property (machinery, equipment) and other property not 'secured' to land.

The City Manager's recommended budget presented to Council before adoption.

A formal Council meeting where the public is invited to speak on a specific item before the Council votes.

Money set aside in a fund's balance for future obligations, emergencies, or working capital.

A formal Council action, typically expressing policy or authorizing a specific act.

Money the City receives. Examples include property tax, sales tax, fees, and grants.

The adopted budget after subsequent Council amendments during the year.

Regional Housing Needs Allocation — the state-mandated process that assigns each city a housing production target.

Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund — leftover property tax revenue from dissolved redevelopment agencies, distributed to local taxing entities.

Compensation paid to City employees — the largest expense category in any city budget.

Tax on retail sales of tangible goods, of which a portion comes back to the City.

Payments to outside vendors for professional services, contracts, and other purchased services.

San Mateo County Transportation Authority — administers Measure A and Measure W sales tax revenue for transportation projects in San Mateo County.

Funds that receive revenue restricted to a specific purpose by law, donor, or grantor.

The written analysis prepared by City staff for each Council agenda item.

A budget shortfall that recurs because ongoing expenses exceed ongoing revenues — distinct from a one-time gap.

When expected revenue is larger than planned expense. Less common than a deficit; usually saved into reserves.

A change to a tax that voters must approve at an election.

Transient Occupancy Tax — a tax on hotel and short-term rental stays.

Money moved from one City fund to another — appears as 'revenue' to the receiving fund.

Money moved out of a fund to another City fund.

See TOT.

A traffic safety initiative aiming for zero traffic deaths and severe injuries.

Vehicle License Fee — a state-collected fee on cars that the state distributes back to cities, with a 'backfill' provision when state fees fell.

Water-rate revenue set aside for water-system capital projects; it cannot pay for anything other than water work.