Real talk, optimism, theatrics and snail races - State of the City 2026 has it all

Folsom's newest Mayor Justin Raithel kicked off the 2026 State of the City address at Lakeside Church in traditional fashion, with gratitude and a theme of cautious optimism for the future. Raithel also did something highly untraditional: He jumped off the stage with a mischievous smile and then bolted out of the venue. From there, a clever and entertaining video began playing on two big screens above the stage, featuring Raithel in different key locations, from city hall to the Rainbow Bridge to recreation areas, complete with dramatic drone footage and other compelling effects. In the video, Raithel previewed a number of upcoming projects and visions for Folsom's future, such as new trails, parks, modernizing infrastructure and more. "Folsom isn't standing still, and neither are we," said Raithel in the video presentation. "We're moving faster, thinking smarter and making sure the way we grow truly reflects the people who live here." Once the video was over, Raithel suddenly ran back into the venue, hopped onto the stage and resumed his State of the City address as the sold-out crowd laughed and applauded. After the moment of fun and laughs, Raithel detailed serious challenges Folsom has faced in recent years and praised former Mayor Sarah Aquino and City Manager Bryan Whitemyer for expertly navigating the city through a $3 million budget shortfall by making tough, smart choices. Raithel discussed strained resources, less-than-desirable sales tax revenues and aging parks and infrastructure, all while the city's population continues to grow. "For many years, the city has projected a structural deficit without a sustainable, long-term solution. Our resources have been strained trying to provide the same high level of service to our residents and the results have been a growing backlog of deferred maintenance and increasing PERS payments to deal with our unfunded future liabilities," explained Raithel. "The City of Folsom has $1.2 billion worth of assets on the books but has spent on average just under $14 million per year to maintain them. Typical maintenance of assets runs from 2 percent to 5 percent of the asset value, but Folsom has been spending just 1.1 percent per year. This is unsustainable and has led to more expensive emergency repairs on our aging infrastructure. "Living within our means will not be easy, but it is the right way to run a household, and it's also the right way to run our city," said Raithel. "Thank you to Bryan but also to Mayor Aquino for her leadership during these community discussions." Raithel also was forthcoming about discrimination lawsuits the city recently settled; the suits involved allegations of racial discrimination, sexual harassment and emotional distress within the Folsom Police Department. "My colleagues and I have approved four settlements and one worker's compensation claim without admission of fault, totaling just over $1 million," explained Raithel. "I don't want to sugarcoat this: These lawsuits were serious, costly to taxpayers, and we have taken concrete steps to ensure we do better moving forward. Our city leadership is committed to ensuring all employees are treated with dignity and that any accusations are investigated promptly and fully in the future." The mayor also discussed how tough decisions were made in 2025 while taking a creative approach, such as reassigning fire apparatus and browning out an engine company to save money and reduce overtime. "We also established an ad-hoc committee with Sac Metro's fire board to explore regional collaboration and partnership models to see if we can lower costs while maintaining our high level of service," said Raithel. "Because nearly 80 percent of our calls are medical, we plan to introduce single-role paramedics this year, whose primary focus is medical response rather than fire suppression, to better match how we serve the community." Safety continues to be a top priority for the city, said Raithel; he cited a recent report by SafeAsset which ranked Folsom as one of the safest suburbs in the country. Raithel also welcomed new Police Chief Adam Green, who took the helm late last year. "I want to thank the men and women of the Folsom Police Department for responding to over 73,000 calls for service last year and answering 99 percent of 911 calls within 15 seconds," said Raithel. "They also had the largest fentanyl seizure in department history working to keep this dangerous drug off our streets. Your work 24/7, 365 days a year does not go unnoticed and we appreciate you." The city has purchased a building across the street from the Police Department on Natoma Street, a space they previously leased. The facility will be used for investigations and other needs as the city continues to expand. Raithel also excitedly discussed plans to expand the local trail system and upgrade parks such as Lembi and Livermore, and a complete rebuild of the beloved Castle Park this year. The mayor praised local volunteers for devoting 661 hours to brush clearing and ladder fuel reduction on local trail systems. "2025 was a banner year for the public-private partnership we have with the Friends of Folsom Parkways. They took over the Adopt-a-Trail program and every trail segment available has been adopted to date – 41 segments in all," said Raithel. "The White Rock Road Trail connecting Folsom Ranch to El Dorado Hills is expected to open in fall 2026. 2027 will see the Class I trails under Highway 50 at Placerville Road and the rail trail improvements along East Bidwell from Oak Avenue to Iron Point Road. Folsom's impressive network of trails continues to expand and be a source of pride and connection for our city." Traffic management and infrastructure upgrades are another key priority for the city, said Raithel, and he expressed gratitude for help from Congressman Kevin Kiley, who secured important federal funds for the Empire Ranch Interchange, a project that would create a new interchange on Highway 50 between the East Bidwell Street interchange on the west and the El Dorado Hills Boulevard interchange on the east. "We also received federal funds for the Riley Street Safety Improvement Project for better pedestrian connections between the Historic District and the Central Business District, including Sutter Middle School. Design is underway with construction anticipated in 2027," said Raithel. "Congressman Kiley also secured over $1 million for Phase II of the Folsom Lake Crossing safety improvements, and 2026 will see the extension of the metal median barrier along with improvements to increase driver awareness." Raithel said while sales tax revenues continue to be flat, there is optimism those numbers will increase in the next few years; and Folsom continues to be a huge draw for families. Raithel said median home sales in Folsom are now at $831,000, and one reason families want to settle here is because of the highly rated schools. "Our school district continues to be one of the few growing school districts in California. The district has plans to open Granite Springs Elementary School in 2028, Buffalo Creek High School in 2029 and Prairie City Middle School in 2031," said Raithel. "These estimates are based on home sales and funding availability but we're excited for these new facilities." Raithel went on to discuss the healthcare boom in Folsom, with Sutter Health breaking ground on a 106,000 square-foot medical office building slated to open in 2027, complete with a cancer center, outpatient services and urgent care. UC Davis opened its 112,000 square-foot outpatient center/medical office in September with plans for 300,000 more square feet. And Dignity Health broke ground on a 90,000 square-foot Advanced Ambulatory Care Center in Folsom Ranch, the first of five phases of that facility. Kaiser also has a 27,000 square-foot expansion project currently being reviewed by the city and expected to open in 2028. Finally, Shriners Children's Northern California will open its first off-site clinic on Creekside this March. "In 2026, we also have a number of new businesses opening, including the AC Hotel by Marriott at the Palladio," said Raithel, excitedly. "This 130-guest room hotel will take the total hotel rooms in Folsom up over 1,000 total hotel rooms and bring in over $300,000 per year in transient occupancy tax that will be reinvested in our community." As Raithel prepared to close, he referenced a project near and dear to his heart which harkens back to his long history dedicated to community service. Raithel is a founding member of Folsom's Community Service Day and in 2020 was named the city's Volunteer of the Year. "One of my favorite ribbon cuttings of 2025 was the Habitat for Humanity project where 10 affordable homes were sold to families who qualified for a zero-percent interest, 30-year loan and who put in at least 500 hours of sweat equity," said Raithel. "This project was developed on land that was owned by the City of Folsom, but the affordable housing trust fund fully reimbursed our general fund for the land value. We now have 10 new homeowning families in Folsom, and we are looking for opportunities to use this model again in the future." In closing, Mayor Raithel acknowledged that while Folsom still faces challenges, the city has a lot to celebrate. This year brings Folsom's 80th anniversary, and for the occasion, officials are throwing a community birthday party next to the library in May. They're even bringing back snail races for that one day – an event that took place in the 1980s and '90s where snails "raced" from the base of a 17-inch pole to the top (known as the Great Snail Race). The event will be a nod to Folsom's rich past and an eye on its bright future. "I stand before you today realizing that each day you make a choice whether to invest your time, your talents and your treasure here in Folsom. I see a bright future for our community and I encourage you to tell our story far and wide," said Raithel. "Folsom is pointed in the right direction, we are focused on the right priorities and we will always find the ways to make this city the best place to work, play and raise a family."