Financial Services Department

68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Phone: (760)770-0356
Fax: (760)202-1467
Email: financedept@cathedralcity.gov
Business License: (760)770-0353
Email: businesslicensestaff@cathedralcity.gov

Department Summary

The Finance Division’s mission is to ensure that City’s financial resources are protected through sound financial management, including allocation of resources consistent with community goals and providing timely, accurate, and reliable information assisting City Management and City Council in making informed decisions.

The Finance Division is responsible for financial management planning support, including analysis and assistance in preparing the City Manager’s two-year budget. The division also administers the fiscal affairs of the City through maintenance of a general ledger; production of financial reports; administration of debt financing; collection and posting of revenues; payment and accounting of obligations; purchasing goods and services; payroll; and assistance in preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The Finance Division also assists the elected City Treasurer in the investment process and related record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Conformance to legal requirements
• Governmental accounting compliance
• Analysis and interpretation of financial data
• Budget preparation
• Audit assistance
• Financial planning
• Debt administration
• Annual financial report preparation
• Investment oversight for City Treasurer
• Revenue and Collections

• Customers using credit/debit cards for payments in person and online will be charged a 2.75% service fee payable to the City. This is a fee collected by the City of Cathedral City to help offset the cost of merchant service fees.
• The City also provides an online option of E-Check payments for a flat fee of $1.95 in addition to the cost of services.

Community Assistance Grant Program

• Notice of Publication for Grant Applications - FY2026
• Public Service Grant Application Fillable Form - FY2026

Budget Documents

• Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027
• Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025
• Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023
• Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021
• Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019

City Financial Reports

• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2023/2024
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2022/2023
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2021/2022
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2020/2021

Fee Schedules

• User and Regulatory Fees
• Development Impact Fees

 Senate Bill 165, Gov't Code 50075 Annual Report

• SB 165, GC 50075 Annual Report FY 2024/2025
• SB 165, GC 50075 Annual Report FY 2023/2024
• SB 165, GC 50075 Annual Report FY 2022/2023
• SB 165, GC 50075 Annual Report FY 2021/2022
• SB 165, GC 50075 Annual Report FY 2020/2021

Utility Users Tax (UUT) Information

Cathedral City residents aged 65 and older may qualify for a Utility Users Tax (UUT) exemption, helping reduce monthly utility costs. If you are enrolled in the CARE program, you could be eligible to save on electricity, gas, phone, and other services. Contact the Finance Department to learn more. See the information and forms below:

• UUT Exemption Request - Apply for exemption if age 65 or older and qualified under the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program
• UUT Instructions - To be used by Cathedral City residents who are 65 or older and qualified under the CARE program
• UUT Instrucciones - Esta forma sera usada para residentes de la Ciudad de Cathedral que tienen minimo 65 anos, y califican baja el programa "CARE".
• UUT Ordinance - Certified by Riverside County on December 2, 2008 with an effective date 10 days later on December 12, 2008. Utility providers are required to implement the UUT not later than April 1, 2009.
• UUT Remittance Form - To be used by the utility company when submitting payment to Cathedral City
• UUT Telecommunications Exemption Request - To be used by an eligible institution/organization filing for exemption from the telecommunications UUT

Sales Tax Sharing Agreements

EFFECTIVE  APRIL 1, 2016

City Council adopted Resolution No. 2016-12 on March 23, 2016,  providing economic incentive payments based on the GL Honda of the Desert (HOD), LLC sales tax sharing agreement . Economic incentive payments were calculated and paid at an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the sales tax increment derived from the business over a period of nine (9) years, but not to exceed Four Hundred Twenty-Seven Dollars ($427,000.00) in total. The original sales tax sharing agreement was due to end on June 30, 2024, with a first amendment executed to extend the agreement. 

Resolution No. 2024-35 was adopted on August 14, 2024, extending the agreement to no later than June 30, 2040 with a not to exceed amount of Four Million Four Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Dollars, $4,427,000, comprised of $427,000 in prior payments and $4,000,000 in ongoing payments.

The total dollar amount rebated during fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, was $76,232.00.