San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 8, 2026
San Diego Budget Review Committee Meeting - May 8, 2026
The Budget Review Committee, chaired by Council President, convened on May 8, 2026, to review proposed budgets for multiple city departments. The meeting covered Communications, Police, Fire Rescue, and City Attorney. No votes were taken; all items were informational. Public testimony was heard on each sub-item.
Communications Department
- Presenters: Deputy Chief of Staff Nick Serrano, Director Nicole Darling, Deputy Director Maureen Hugar. They presented a proposed general fund budget of $8.6 million, a decrease of $785,000 from FY26, with 36 FTEs (4.5 fewer). Reductions include four FTE (three program coordinators, one multimedia production coordinator) and a half-time information systems technician. The Public Records Act (PRA) team is proposed to transfer to IT. The department highlighted accomplishments: 37,000 monthly page views on Inside San Diego, 700+ translation requests, 10,000+ PRA responses (17% increase).
- IBA Analysis: Sergio Alcalde noted the publishing services fund faces a $153,000 projected revenue shortfall. Ye Morales flagged equity impacts from PRA and City TV reductions.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember Ilo Rivera questioned the value of a standalone department vs. consolidation or embedding PIOs in departments. Council President Pro Tem Lee emphasized the need for a clear vision and distinction between core communications and political messaging. Councilmember Von Wolpert praised PSAs and City TV. Councilmember Whitburn supported centralized communications. Council President noted improved coordination with council offices.
- Public Comments: Speakers included Blair Beekman (urged better consolidation), Corrine Wilson (MEA, defended classified positions), Catherine Rhodes (questioned non-union positions), and others. Some called for cutting middle management and improving transparency.
Police Department
- Presenters: Chief Scott Wall, Kyle Mukes. Proposed general fund budget of $719 million, a $15 million increase (2%) driven by non-discretionary costs. Includes a hiring freeze on 28 sworn positions and 10 civilian PSOs. Overtime budget increased by $2 million. Key additions: 18 parking enforcement positions, e-ticketing system. The department is on track to meet overtime budget for the first time. Chief Wall emphasized protecting academies, training, and core services.
- IBA Analysis: Baku Patel noted the overtime budget totals $47.2 million, not accounting for potential salary adjustments. Kim Desmond provided equity context, noting historic mistrust and impacts of freezing community/youth services positions.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember Von Wolpert praised overtime management but expressed concern over recruitment and retention (237 vacancies, 38-minute priority one response time). Councilmember Ilo Rivera questioned the $15 million increase while other departments face cuts; critiqued Flock Nova contract, helicopter use, and called for redirecting ALPR funds to youth programs. Councilman Campillo defended ALPRs and opposed cuts to sworn positions. Council President Pro Tem Lee focused on homelessness-related overtime and the need for a consistent approach. Councilmember Moreno asked about car allowances, vendor enforcement, and the chief's political relations team. Council President noted efforts on transparency and the Argis audit.
- Public Comments: Jared Wilson (POA president) strongly opposed the budget, alleging retaliation against union members and criticizing political staffing in the chief's office. Other speakers opposed police budget increases, called for cutting Flock, and advocated for reinvestment in community services. Some supported the chief's budget.
Fire Rescue Department
- Presenters: Chief Robert Logan, Michelle Yamamoto. Proposed general fund budget of $401 million, a $19 million increase (5%) primarily due to non-discretionary costs. Reduction of 12 FTEs, including bomb squad cross-staffing (6 FTE), community resource captain, recruitment captain, fire information officer, academy instructor, and OES program coordinator. Additions: marine safety captain, fire protection engineer, deputy fire chief (replacing executive director). Overtime budget increased by $6.6 million.
- IBA Analysis: Baku Patel noted the overtime budget does not account for bomb squad training ($327,000 estimated) or academy instructor overtime. EMS fund transfer to general fund increases to $16.5 million, nearly depleting fund balance. Ye Morales flagged equity impacts: reduced specialized units, outreach, and OES staffing could disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember Von Wolpert questioned bomb squad cross-staffing and the need to avoid brownouts. Chief Logan asserted the model works and is not a brownout. Councilmember Campillo expressed concerns about downtown response times and EMS fund sweeps. Councilmember Ilo Rivera highlighted the importance of community resource positions and lifeguard wellness. Council President Pro Tem Lee noted the department is underfunded per capita. Several members committed to restoring the female training officer position.
- Public Comments: Mark Morrison (Local 145) warned cuts would harm morale and public safety, particularly bomb squad cross-staffing and recruitment. Other speakers supported restoring positions and improving lifeguard facilities.
City Attorney's Office
- Presenter: City Attorney Heather Ferber (assumed). Proposed budget reflects a $9 million reduction (10% from prior years), including $6.5 million in personnel cuts. Key accomplishments: $4.7 million in code enforcement revenue, 37% increase in firearm seizures, preserved $450 million in federal funds. The office faces 9 supplemental positions funded by vacancy savings. Proposed mitigations: eliminating two positions, using business and professions (B&P) penalty funds to offset general fund costs.
- IBA Analysis: Gillian Andalina noted the budget increase of $800,000 is driven by pension costs. Grace Bagunu highlighted equity benefits from adding a gun violence investigator.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember Campillo urged maximizing B&P funds and noted the office's role in generating revenue. Councilmember Ilo Rivera expressed appreciation for housing enforcement and litigation against price-fixing. City Attorney Ferber said additional resources would be used for civil litigation support and proactive prevention.
- Public Comments: Jerry Braun (San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention) supported the gun violence unit and Family Justice Center. Other speakers criticized the office for handling criminal matters and alleged money laundering.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; all items were informational.
- The committee heard public testimony and held extensive discussions on each department.
- Councilmembers will submit budget priorities and memos by May 20, 2026.
- The May Revise from the Mayor is expected next week.
- The committee will continue discussions on Personnel and Commission on Police Practices at a later date.
- The final budget adoption is scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Closing Remarks
Council President thanked staff, the public, and committee members. CFO Charbel urged honesty about the city's revenue-service gap and the need for a future revenue measure.
Meeting Transcript
And the little hill. All right. Good morning. And welcome to the next session of the budget review committee of May eighth, twenty twenty-six. Our committee later on Natalie Kessler will go over instructions for today's meeting. Natalie. Thank you, Council President. As previously mentioned, the budget review committee will convene for one continuous meeting starting Monday, May 4th, 2026 through Friday, May 8th, 2026, beginning each day at 9 a.m. The meeting will continue until the entire agenda is complete. Department budgets will be heard in the order of the agenda, subject to the chair's discretion. Throughout the continuous budget review committee meeting, public comment will be taken during each sub-item. The public may also comment on any departments not listed for a formal presentation on the agenda during subitem S additional department review. This information and instruction is also available on the budget review committee agenda on the city's webpage. While the public is allowed to attend the meetings in person, this meeting is also being televised and live streamed on the city's website, and council administration will continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide virtual testimony must enter the virtual queue by raising their hand before the queue closes. The queue will close when the last virtual speaker finishes speaking or five minutes after in-person testimony ends, whichever occurs first. This will allow for better meeting management between the two platforms and ensure the council is able to manage and conduct city business. For sub-items containing more than one department being discussed, members of the public will have one minute per department listed with a maximum time of three minutes total. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair. Thank you, Natalie. I will now call the budget review committee meeting of Friday, May 8th, 2026 to order. Natalie, please call the roll. Council President Lakava. Present. Committee Member Campbell. Committee member with Committee Member Whitford. Here. Committee member Von Wilbert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Committee member Campillo. Vice Chair Moreno. Committee member Ila Rivera. And Chair Committee Member Foster. Also attending the meeting today, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Todd Gloria, Nick Serrano, Associate Fiscal and Policy Analyst Sergio Calde with the Independent Budget Analysts Office, Deputy City Attorney Laura Easton from the City Attorney's Office, and Chief Financial Officer Rolando Charbell. If you're in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it on top of the box indicated at the speaker's lecturing at the front of the room. Please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. In-person testimony will conclude before virtual testimony begins. And you may join the webinar by computer, tablet, or smartphone by accessing the link listed online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's website. If you need to participate by phone, please dial 1669-2545252. The webinar ID is 160-332-690 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each agenda item. If you're watching via City TV 24 or online, there may be a delay. Please participate via the audio on your phone and mute your TV or computer when it is your turn to speak. And if you wish to speak on a particular sub-item, wait for that site sub-item to be called and then raise your hand to speak by tapping the raise your hand icon. Or if you're a called participant, press star nine on your phone. If you raise your hand during a non-comment period, your hand will be lowered. Council President. All right, thank you, Natalie, for reviewing those instructions for the benefit of the public and just confirming we do not have any council members online or participating room.
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