SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The highly scrutinized San Diego city budget for the 2026 fiscal year has finally been passed.
After facing more than a quarter of a billion-dollar shortfall, city council voted to approve an amended budget, all while saving some of the key programs and services Mayor Todd Gloria chose to cut.
There has been passion and heated opinions from the public for months, including on decision day Tuesday when city council was set to approve an amended budget.
“Investing in them tell San Diegans they matter. Mayor Gloria’s budget tells San Diegans that only some of them matter. It cuts funding for libraries, parks and rec centers, youth programs, the arts, equity offices and climate justice initiatives,” said Noah Yee Yick, researcher and policy advocate at the Center on Policy Initiatives.
Councilmembers presented amendments to Gloria’s final budget, saving several items on the chopping block that drew heavy criticism from the community.
Fire pits have been saved due to county funding. Monday hours will be available at more than a dozen libraries and all rec centers hours will be restored. In addition, the Office of Race and Equity and $450,000 in funding for arts, culture and community festivals nonprofits grants will be restored.
Access will not be lost to Lake Murray and Lake Miramar and public restrooms near the beaches and Balboa Park will remain open.
After Gloria largely blamed the public for not passing the most recent proposed tax increase, the money for these restorations had to come from somewhere.
That includes cutting administrative positions totaling $3 million, plans to start charging for parking at Balboa Park and a newly approved monthly trash fee, which is expected to generate $80 million annually.
“With that behind us and those revenues that we can count on for the next year, it is allowing us to do the extraordinary changes that our residents, our constituents, our neighborhoods, need and demand and deserve,” said Council President Joe LaCava.
Even with the budget passing with a majority 7 to 2 vote, the city’s independent budget analyst acknowledges how narrow the margin is for any error.
“If we do hit an economic downturn, even if all of these good things, these new revenues come to fruition, we will be faced with the need for immediate cuts,” Charles Modica said.
The budget goes into effect on July 1.
