San Diego City Council Budget Meeting – May 19, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
San Diego City Council Budget Meeting – May 19, 2025
The San Diego City Council held a full-day meeting on Monday, May 19, 2025, addressing the fiscal year (FY) 2025 third‑quarter budget monitoring report, the FY 2026 May revised budget, and a public hearing on the FY 2026 proposed budget. Mayor Todd Gloria and Department of Finance staff presented the reports, which revealed a projected general fund deficit of $115.2 million for FY 2025 and a structurally balanced but austere FY 2026 proposal. Over 200 members of the public testified, most opposing cuts to libraries, parks, and recreation centers and urging redirection of funds from police surveillance programs.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michael Zucchet (MEA President) – Criticized the administration for hiring unclassified positions during the hiring freeze while cutting hundreds of classified positions, especially in parks and recreation. He urged the council to restore assistant rec center director positions and reduce executive bloat.
- Gary Weitzman (San Diego Humane Society) – Noted that the city’s $2 million partial restoration still leaves a $900,000 gap, which could force the Humane Society to terminate its contract. He emphasized that animal services are state‑mandated and that the city would have to provide them anyway.
- Dozens of youth from City Heights – Spoke passionately about the need for Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park funding, library hours, and rec center programs. They argued that these spaces are essential for public safety and community well‑being.
- Multiple speakers – Supported restoring police funding but also demanded equitable funding for libraries and parks, especially in underserved districts (4, 8, 9). Many called for ending the Flock ALPR contract and using the $2.5 million for community services.
- Speakers representing the Community Budget Alliance – Urged the council to reject the mayor’s budget, use the Climate Equity Index to prioritize low‑income communities, and fund the Office of Immigrant Affairs, parks, libraries, and youth programs.
Discussion Items
- FY 2025 Third‑Quarter Budget Monitoring Report – Department of Finance staff reported that general fund revenues are projected $17.9 million (0.9%) under budget, driven by shortfalls in sales tax and franchise fees. Expenditures are $12.8 million (0.6%) over budget, largely due to overtime in public safety and a required transfer from the SeaWorld settlement. The net position is negative $115.2 million, requiring an estimated $10.1 million draw from the stability reserve (later reduced to $8.1 million after a $2 million Monsanto settlement). The council will vote on the requested authorities on June 10.
- FY 2026 May Revised Budget – The mayor’s revision maintains a balanced budget with limited restorations: partial restoration of the Northwestern Division (one lieutenant instead of a captain and sergeant), two vice‑position detectives, and a bomb‑squad cross‑staffing unit. No restorations were made to library or park‑and‑recreation hours. The revision also includes $2.4 million for the Climate Equity Fund and $1 million for the San Diego Humane Society’s HVAC/roof. The council will consider budget modifications on June 6 and adopt the final budget on June 10.
- Councilmember Frustrations – Budget Chair Foster, Councilmember Ilo Rivera, and others expressed disappointment that the May revise did not restore hours for libraries and parks, especially in low‑income areas. They criticized the administration for not doing enough to generate new revenue (e.g., accelerated Balboa Park parking fees, non‑resident beach parking, sponsorships) and for cutting front‑line classified positions while adding unclassified managers.
Key Outcomes
- No votes taken on the budget items (informational items); actions will be taken on June 10.
- Deadline for council budget modification memos – May 21, 2025.
- Next budget review committee – June 6, 2025.
- Council will vote on the FY 2026 budget adoption – June 10, 2025.
- Public hearing on the budget – Over 200 speakers testified; the council will consider their input in final amendments.
Meeting Transcript
Council meeting of Monday, May 19th, 2025 to order. Deputy Clerk Pantaleon, please call the roll. Councilmember Campbell here. Councilmember Whipurn. Here. Councilmember Foster. Here. Councilmember Von Wilpert. Council President Pro Tem Lee. Here. Councilmember Campillo. Here. Councilmember Moreno. Councilmember Ilo Rivera. And Council President Lacava. Present. Also attending the meeting are City Attorney Heather Ferbert, Independent Budget Analyst Charles Matica, and myself, your assistant city clerk, D.C. Pentaleon. All right, thank you. Uh quorum is now present. We will begin this morning with an invocation by Deputy Clerk Pantaleon, followed with the land acknowledgement and the pledge of allegiance led by Councilmember Campbell. Grant those who hold office in the city, the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in the offices to promote the well-being of all people. We respectfully acknowledge that the Kumiyai Nation are the original inhabitants of the unceded land now known as San Diego. Despite enduring the horrors of genocide and colonization, the Kumiyai spirit remains unbroken. We honor the resilience of their ancestors who fought to protect their land and culture. Today they carry their legacy forward, ensuring that their traditions continue to thrive in gratitude and strength. We stand with the Kumyai Nation connected to our past and committed to a thriving future. Please face the flag, right hand over your heart. All right, with that. With that, I want to thank uh Council President Pro Tem Lee for stepping up last Tuesday when I was uh out ill. So thank you for that, sir. With that, the Deputy City Clerk will now go over how the public can offer their public testimony. Please proceed. I will now highlight the slide on the screen that reviews how the public can offer their public testimony during today's meeting. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and bring it to the front of the room. No further in-person testimony will be taken once the council begins virtual testimony. For better meeting management purposes, each speaker will have one minute per item per person, a maximum of three minutes if there are three or more items on the closed session agenda. Thank you, Council President. All right, thank you for that. So Deputy Clerk, please read the closed session items into the record. Conference with legal counsel existing litigation pursuant to California government code section 54956.9 D1. CS1, Vernon Watts Jr. versus City of San Diego, CS2, January 202 2022, 2024, flooding litigation, and CS3, City of San Diego versus 101 Ash, LLC et al. And with that, please proceed with public comment. Please begin your comment. Thank you. Thank you, Grad. We are here again. Cesar and Purita. We represent West Bancoyas.
openpublica.com