San Diego’s brutal budget cuts, explained

Hundreds of residents whose taxpayer dollars fuel daily operations have taken to City Hall in recent weeks to air their frustrations over Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed answer to San Diego’s budget crisis this year.

That’s because Gloria’s budget slashes millions of dollars in funding for arts, parks, libraries and more in order to close a more than $140 million deficit. Those cuts would impact the city’s lower-income, racially diverse areas the most, according to the Independent Budget Analyst office. About 40 city jobs would also be eliminated.

In many ways, a city’s budget is an outline of its leaders’ priorities. It drives community services like public safety, parks, libraries and transportation. When cuts are made, certain departments and services have to roll back.

Here in San Diego, cuts will impact the city’s 1.4 million residents who rely on those services.

Gloria’s $6.4 billion spending plan is not final. It will have gone through several revisions once the City Council approves a budget in June.

Here’s what to know.

What’s going up — and what’s going down: Gloria said that public safety is one of the city’s priorities. It shows in the numbers. Both police and Fire-Rescue would receive an increase in funding. 

The mayor’s draft budget gives nearly $15 million more for police, bringing its funding to $726 million — the largest department budget. It also calls for a $547 million Fire-Rescue budget, about $27 million more than last year.

Homelessness and transportation, specifically traffic safety and road infrastructure, are a few of Gloria’s other priorities.

On the other hand, the city’s arts funding faces a proposed $11.8 million cut. That would be a more than a 85% reduction in funding that typically goes to local nonprofit groups that rely on city grants. 

While the mayor restored some of his initial reductions to libraries in his revised budget last week, these community spaces will still have to roll back services for a second year in a row. 

The cuts to libraries would now total $4.8 million. Gloria’s budget leaves library and recreation center hours unchanged in underserved districts 4, 8 and 9. But six libraries would cut Saturday hours in half, and three others would have to close on Mondays. 

Twenty recreation centers would reduce their weekly operating hours to 40.

Digging a deep hole: All revenue from property, sales and hotel taxes are falling short of projections. 

But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The city is also being battered by several issues, including inflation, rising labor costs and staggering pension debt. It also has relied on one-time funding sources, like federal COVID-19 dollars. And it’s been criticized by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, which released a report last month that found the city government’s workforce has grown more than four times the rate of the general population.

The city is required by local law to balance its budget, meaning it can only spend as much money as it plans to bring in.

Officials have sought additional revenue, including from the new trash collection fee, paid parking in Balboa Park and rate hikes elsewhere. But even some of those changes are bringing in less money than projected — and they have been met with opposition from residents.

What’s next? Who decides?: Gloria has already released his initial draft and revised version of the budget. It is now in the hands of councilmembers to discuss changes they want to implement. The IBA will issue a final report on the budget on June 2.

Here’s the timeline:

• May 20: Councilmembers’ memos detailing their budget priorities are due to the IBA. 
• 9 a.m. June 5: The Budget Review Committee will discuss recommended modifications from the full council and hear public comments. 
• June 9: This is the City Council’s deadline to formally approve the budget. 

Weigh in: Members of the public have multiple opportunities throughout the budget process to offer feedback.

• Send a message to the mayor’s office through email or by calling 619-236-6330. 
• Contact your city councilmember. Find your district here.
• Attend council meetings and Budget Review Committee hearings. Look at the city’s calendar for meeting details.