Fresno City Council Special Meeting: FY27 Budget Workshop and Closed Session – May 15, 2026

This special meeting, as captured in the transcript, included a detailed presentation of the Mayor's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, councilmember questions and discussion, public testimony, and a closed session for a City Clerk appointment. Note: The official agenda and minutes record this meeting as a special session on May 14, 2026, solely for the closed session; the transcript includes significant open-session proceedings not reflected in those documents, indicating a discrepancy.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting agenda was approved on a motion by Vice President Maxwell, seconded by Councilmember Vang, with a 6-0 vote (Councilmember Arias absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Several speakers opposed the HART (Homeless Assistance Resource Team) policing approach, including Brandy N., Ariana, Bob Nikolski (Fresno Community Alliance and Fresno Homeless Union), Alfred, Enrique Little, and Dez Martinez. They argued that enforcement is costly and ineffective, calling for housing-first strategies and redirection of police funding to community services. Specific criticisms included the cost of encampment sweeps (~$3,000 per cycle), low clearance rates for non-violent crimes, abuse allegations, and the inefficiency of the camping ordinance.
• David Bertardi spoke in support of a second HART team, stating that many unhoused individuals refuse services and that enforcement is necessary.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's FY27 Budget Presentation: The Mayor presented a balanced $2.55 billion budget. The general fund is $541.8 million, with police funding at $263.7 million (48.6% of general fund) and fire at $107.6 million (19.9%). An initial $34.5 million deficit was closed through: $10.7 million from FY26 carryover adjustments, $7.5 million from denied department requests, $7.3 million from shifting expenses to grants and special revenues, $5.9 million from a higher sales tax projection (2.8% increase), $1.4 million from contract cleanup, $1.16 million from department efficiency cuts (5% reduction exercise), and $581,000 from additional attrition savings. Revenue projections include property tax (+5.94%), sales tax (+2.8%), business license tax (+3.76%), and room tax (+6.9%). Cannabis tax is budgeted at $3.3 million (down slightly). Highlights: $140 million for roads and sidewalks, $2.65 million for two fire drill schools training 40 firefighters, $1.5 million for eviction protection, $1 million for residential infill housing, $949,000 for airport noise study and $2.3 million for noise mitigation, $300,000 for Advanced Peace, $225,000 for spay/neuter, $100,000 for 250th celebration, $500,000 for power washing/trash removal in Tower District and Downtown, $553,000 to restore a 10-year tree trimming cycle, $21 million carryover for regional fire training facility, $945,000 for Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and $300,000 per council district for discretionary projects. Public safety includes adding one sergeant and four officers to HART (total sworn to 935), absorbing 24 SAFER grant firefighters into the general fund ($2.97 million), $660,000 for turnouts, $200,000 for fire station capital improvements. Attrition rates: police 6.18%, fire 0.81% (admin only).

• Councilmember Questions:

  • Vice President Maxwell: Discussed the structural imbalance between revenue growth and expenditure increases, the impact of the Attorney General's blackjack ban (budgeted $400,000 reduction), cannabis revenue (16 of 20 permits open), Measure P ($49.5 million new revenue, $68 million carryover), the wage theft grant status (unmaterialized), eviction protection using local housing trust fund (no income criteria), debt service ($13.1 million), and police effective staffing (estimated 875–890 sworn after vacancies and long-term leave). He praised the budget and foresaw fewer amendments.
  • Councilmember Karbassi: Emphasized the need for revenue growth and criticized obstacles to development (e.g., opposition to Southeast Development Area). He thanked for investments in Pine Dale Community Center, roads (Herndon, Shaw), and San Joaquin River access, and planned to request information on fire special teams.
  • Councilmember Vang: Sought clarification on police staffing (935 sworn, 399 non-sworn). He noted the Pave More Now program's tangible impact in his district and planned a motion to reimburse businesses affected by the Kings Canyon/Ventura/California street name change (previously $1 million allocated, only $77 claimed).
  • Councilmember Perea: Asked about cost to expand ministerial permitting for housing, tree trimming 10-year cycle ($3.35 million), speed limit signs, nonprofit funding (e.g., Marjorie Mason Center via HHAP), eviction protection spending ($1.5 million, ~160 referrals), cannabis benefit fund ($330,000 generated, $300,000 for Advanced Peace), spay/neuter totals (4,000 internal, 1,800 external), and homeless service levels (mobile showers, warming/cooling centers maintained).
  • Council President Esparza: Addressed the retail theft grant (25 officers, expiring FY27) and potential conversion to traffic officers to enhance revenue and safety, debt service roll-offs, and fire drill school sustainability.

Key Outcomes

• The budget presentation was informational; no vote occurred. Budget hearings begin June 8, with final adoption scheduled for June 23.
• Councilmembers indicated they will propose budget motions (e.g., street name change reimbursement, increased spay/neuter, Veterans Memorial funding).
• The council entered closed session at 11:02 AM to discuss the appointment of a City Clerk (Government Code Section 54957(b)). No announcements were made upon return; the meeting adjourned from closed session at 11:37 AM.
• Official records list only the closed session, but the transcript includes extensive open-session proceedings, creating a discrepancy.