Modesto website spotlights Measure H success, but some answers require digging
Last month, the city of Modesto launched City View, which it calls an online “open data” platform for residents, businesses and community organizations. The first phase of the site focuses on Measure H spending.
A news release marketed the website as an “easy to use and visually appealing” interface that “shares data in an accessible and understandable way.”
As of early March, City View’s database had 155 entries that include documents, charts, datasets, maps and what are called “story pages” — select information that spotlights the accomplishments of various city departments.
“Effective storytelling is one of the city’s goals. With City View, our residents get to see the story behind the numbers that are used in the decision-making process for city programs, services and initiatives,” city spokesperson Sonya Severo said in a statement.
While still in its early stages, City View does give users access to some insightful data, such as spending on city projects including the renovations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Cesar Chavez Park.
The Police Department’s story page includes what Measure H money has funded for the agency from 2022 to 2025. For example, it lists that during the current 2025 fiscal year, Measure H money was budgeted to buy an armored vehicle and add five police officers.
The page also shows how many Measure H positions have been filled vs. what was budgeted for. MPD was, and still is, having issues retaining and recruiting staff, but that appears to be improving. The data shows that as of February, 83% of Measure H-funded positions had been filled.
What isn’t on City View
Several bread crumbs of the issues facing the city’s budget and Measure H can be found on City View, but comprehensive information about the measure in general is hard to find.
Steve Christensen, director of Modesto’s Office of Performance Management and Budget, said City View really shows only the accomplishments of individual departments and key performance indicators of specific projects. If residents want “a more holistic view” of Measure H, such as total spending, revenue and reserve amounts, he said the city’s budget documents would be a better place to look.
For several years, the city has used Measure H to balance a deficit in Modesto’s general fund. This fiscal year, the city budgeted $8.4 million of Measure H money to do this. Next fiscal year, it will be $11.6 million.
More recently, the city has been moving money between the general fund and Measure H funds. An example of this can be found on MPD’s City View story page, which shows that revenue originally deposited into the city’s general fund for programs like CHAT was transferred to Measure H funds. Several MPD operations originally funded by the general fund are now budgeted under Measure H, including its air support operations and alternative response unit.
MPD was budgeted to receive $87.5 million from the general fund and $12.8 million from Measure H this fiscal year.
A presentation to the Measure H Oversight Board in January showed that Measure H was in a strong financial position at the beginning of the fiscal year. In June, the fund had a little over $53 million.
Measure H sales tax revenue is supposed to supply the city with $39 million a year. The second-quarter report, which is halfway through the fiscal year, showed Measure H revenue to be at $16 million. However, this was based on sales only through October and did not include sales tax revenue from the holiday season.
Christensen said Measure H revenue is trending to bring in about $46 million by June. The city planned to spend $53 million in Measure H funds by the same time.
