City Council adopts the FY 2027 Budget.
From the start of this process, I made two commitments. First, that this budget would reflect the City’s fiscal realities and the structural deficit; and second, that this budget would not be balanced with new revenue on the backs of San Diegans. I also instilled a discipline that the Council action should be vetted in advance by the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) and not rely on untested revenue projections. I believe the Council achieved all of that in our action on Tuesday.
Council’s action protected core services in D1 and across the City. After hearing from hundreds of residents and organizations, City Council’s amendments to the budget funded:
- Arts & Culture
- Recreation Centers
- Libraries
- Vision Zero
- Stormwater
- Lifeguards
- Small Business Enhancement Program
- Ethics Commission
- Child and Youth Success
- And, more.
While finite on-going resources kept us from funding services and programs at desired levels, this budget strove to meet on-going expenditures with on-going revenue. This approach helps to systematically reduce our structural deficit.
I am reminded of the advice by the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) in 2008: “There are currently too many needs competing for limited resources, and the community will have to determine which services are deemed critical and desirable, and determine the means by which those services will be provided.” Today, that advice from the IBA is no less blunt.
In closing, take note that the Council and the Mayor worked collaboratively—each advocating for their own set of values, priorities, and long-term vision—to adopt a budget passed unanimously by the Council and signed by the Mayor. In September, we will start work on the FY2028 budget.
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