How Scotts Valley is run
Who runs Scotts Valley, what it costs, and where your money goes
The city manager, council pay, the budget, your property tax bill and who provides each service, from Scotts Valley's own public documents. Every number links to its source and says which year it describes. Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Who runs Scotts Valley
A city manager appointed by the council runs the city day to day. The five elected council members set policy, adopt laws and allocate funds, and direct staff through the city manager.
What they are paid
- Keeps the benefits of the city's management and confidential employees' package (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027)
- At-will: the city may end the agreement at any time; she must give 30 days' notice
- Returns to her Administrative Services Director job and pay when the interim role ends
Scotts Valley city staff
67 full-time-equivalent positions, including Police 29, Public works (general) 13, Public works (wastewater) 8, City administration 7, Community development 6, Recreation 4. FY2026-27. City of Scotts Valley · Jun 3, 2026
The city posts a monthly salary schedule by job title. We found no city list of pay by employee; the city links to the State Controller's pay report. We name pay only for elected officials and the city manager.
Is Scotts Valley in the red?
Cities must pass a balanced budget, so "profit" and "deficit" mean something different here. The useful questions: does the city's everyday money (the general fund) cover its everyday costs, how much does it keep in savings compared with its own target, and how big are its pension and debt bills.
The city's own outlook
The budget plans to use about $0.9 million of general fund reserves in FY2026-27, leaving about $4.6 million, or 21% of operating spending, above the 17% minimum. The city's 10-year forecast shows spending above revenue by about $1 million a year in the near term and reserves falling below the minimum in FY2027-28, even assuming the hotel tax rises from 11% to 12% in 2027. City of Scotts Valley · Jun 3, 2026
Savings against the city's own target
Unassigned general fund balance: $3.4M (2025-06-30). The city's own target: The council's reserve policy sets a minimum general fund reserve target of 17% of operating spending. City of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
Why we skip the "budgeted deficit": many cities plan to dip into savings, then spend less than planned. The audited result tells you what really happened.
Where the money comes from and goes
The general fund only: the city's everyday money for FY2026-27.
Comes from
- Measure Z sales tax (1.25%)$4.3M · 20%
- Other taxes (sales, hotel, property, utility users, business license)$11.6M · 54%
- Charges for service$1.5M · 7%
- Franchise fees$1.4M · 6%
- Transfers in from other funds$1.1M · 5%
- Other (rentals, grants, interest, fines)$1.6M · 7%
Goes to (FY2024-25)
- Public safety (police)$7.8M · 37%
- General government$5.6M · 27%
- Public works$4.1M · 19%
- Planning and building$1.7M · 8%
- Debt service$1M · 5%
- Recreation$783,731 · 4%
Who provides your services
Not everything in Scotts Valley is run by the city. Who provides a service decides whose budget pays for it and whose election decides it.
- PoliceThe cityScotts Valley Police DepartmentCity of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
- 911 dispatchThe cityScotts Valley Police DepartmentCity of Scotts Valley · Sep 2, 2026
- Fire and emergency medical responseSeparate districtScotts Valley Fire DistrictSanta Cruz Public Libraries
- WaterSeparate districtScotts Valley Water DistrictCovers most of the city; managed separately from the cityScotts Valley Water District
- Sewer (wastewater)The cityCity of Scotts ValleyCity of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
- Trash and recyclingPrivate companyGreenWasteGreenWaste
- StreetsThe cityCity of Scotts ValleyCity of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
- Parks and recreationThe cityCity of Scotts ValleyCity of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
- Planning and buildingThe cityCity of Scotts ValleyCity of Scotts Valley · Dec 23, 2025
Compared with similar cities
The cities in this state closest in population that we cover. Read it for scale, not as a ranking: cities provide different services.
| Per city | HealdsburgCA | Half Moon BayCA | Scotts ValleyCA | Los AlamitosCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 11,205 | 11,406 | 11,578 | 11,951 |
| Top administrator's base pay | $303,800 | $295,200 | $268,008 | $261,710 |
| Council member pay | Not confirmed | $11,460 | Not confirmed | $4,800 |
| General fund per resident | $1,850 | $2,259 | $1,872 | $2,532 |
| Debt per resident | $1,977 | $373 | $1,104 | $250 |
| Unfunded pension per resident | $4,295 | $1,250 | $2,092 | $2,156 |
| City staff per 1,000 residents | 13.1 | 4.0 | 5.7 | — |
Figures as shown in each city's section, divided by its population. Years differ by state, and pension figures are measured differently in each state (each city page says how). Half Moon Bay and Scotts Valley and Los Alamitos pays another agency for police or fire, so its own staff count is lower.
What Scotts Valley publishes
What a resident can find online today. A "no" is something you can ask the council to publish.
- Yes: City manager's contract findable online City of Scotts Valley · Sep 2, 2026
- Yes: Council votes recorded member by member onlineCouncil minutes list the members voting aye on each motion. City of Scotts Valley · Jun 3, 2026
- Yes: Meeting videos and minutes onlineAgendas and minutes are posted online, and council meetings are livestreamed and archived on the city's YouTube channel. City of Scotts Valley
- No: Council pay stated in a public documentWe found no ordinance or budget page stating council pay. The Human Resources page links to the State Controller's pay report. City of Scotts Valley
- Partly: Employee pay publishedThe city posts a monthly salary schedule by job title. We found no city list of pay by employee. City of Scotts Valley
Questions to ask your council
- The general fund ended June 30, 2025 with $3.40 million unassigned after its balance fell by $2,532,066 that year. How will the council rebuild reserves?
- The forecast shows general fund reserves falling below the 17% minimum in FY2027-28. Which spending or revenue changes will the council consider first?
- The city's share of the CalPERS net pension liability was $24.2 million. How will the council use the Section 115 pension trust?
- The council appointed an interim city manager on October 1, 2026 at $268,008 a year. What is the timeline to hire a permanent city manager?
The fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30. The city manager presented the proposed FY2026-27 budget on May 20, 2026, and the council adopted it on June 3, 2026. A mid-year budget review follows during the year. See who is running for council
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