Yountville council reviews finances, sets Feb. 14–17 Commons study dates
The Feb. 3 Yountville Town Council meeting was relatively straightforward.
All six items on the consent calendar were approved without discussion. Among those items were amendments to the town’s General Plan, rezoning of the old school property and revisions to the municipal code regarding the Commons project. All of these actions had already been approved by a 4–1 vote at the previous council meeting.
To comply with state reporting requirements, staff presented a report on town staffing levels. Yountville currently employs 36 full-time employees and approximately 60 part-time and seasonal staff. During 2025, there was one vacancy for the Deputy Planning and Building Director position; however, that recruitment was closed without being filled due to a lack of qualified applicants.
The remainder of the meeting focused primarily on financial reports. Highlights from the year-end financial report for fiscal year 2024/2025 included the following:
- Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): The town received a total of $8,446,782 in TOT revenue. This amount was $338,818, or 3.9%, below the original budget projection of $8,785,600.
- Hotel Occupancy: The average occupancy rate for the year was 58.5%, down from 62% in the previous fiscal year.
- Average Room Rate: The average room rate was $706, unchanged from fiscal year 2023/2024.
- Property Tax: The budgeted property tax revenue was $2,679,300. Actual collections exceeded that amount by $201,207 or 7.5%.
- Sales Tax: Sales tax revenue exceeded the budget estimate by $54,165 or 3.1%.
The next portion of the financial presentation addressed the town’s existing debt, which will factor into financial planning for the upcoming Yountville Commons project. The town currently has three outstanding debt obligations:
- Community Center Lease Revenue Bond: Annual payments are approximately $550,000 with the debt maturing in November 2039.
- Town Hall Restoration and Madison/Yount Projects Financing: Annual payments are approximately $350,000. This debt matures in 2027.
- Wastewater System Improvements: The town will make its final payment of $131,331.19 in November 2026, at which point this loan will be fully paid off.
Staff Reports and Announcements
- On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Mardi Gras parade will begin at Veterans Park at 1 p.m. and travel through town to the north end, where Washington Street will be closed for a block party lasting until 4 p.m.
- A Town Council Study Session is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. at Schmitt Hall. An all-day open house will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, allowing the public to review project presentations. Schmitt Hall will also be open on Tuesday, Feb. 17, beginning at 10 a.m. and remaining open until the study session begins. Town staff indicated that all materials will be posted on the town’s website on Friday, Feb. 13. The meeting will not be livestreamed, but an audio recording of the study session will be available on the town’s YouTube channel.
- The multi-use development approved for the corner of Humboldt and Washington Streets is continuing through the permitting process.
- Mark your calendars for July 28 for the third annual Yountville Night Out.
