By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint staff writer
San Diego City Council members voted 9-0 on Mayor Todd Gloria’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Tuesday, marking the end to a tumultuous budget cycle driven by community demand for an equitable and representative budget.
“We voted for you because we want a balanced budget, we want a fiscally healthy city, but it should not be on the backs of those who need it the most. And you guys saw that, and we want to thank you,” said San Diego resident Laila Aziz, at the June 11 city council meeting.
Since Mayor Todd Gloria proposed his Fiscal Year 2025 budget in April, the community has spoken by the hundreds, largely out of frustration for the Mayor’s proposal to slash $36 million in equity programs in order to balance the budget. Through robust community engagement and councilmember modifications, partial or full restorations for equity, housing, climate, and neighborhood programs were put back on the $5.6 billion dollar budget.
The budget document voted on includes the Mayor’s May Revised Budget as well as program restorations each council member submitted to be reviewed by the City’s Independent Budget Analyst, Charles Modica.
“In spite of our structural budget deficit as well as the external economic pressures that exacerbated this deficit, I committed to San Diegans that we would work through this tough fiscal climate to avoid cuts to essential city services, protect our progress on key issues, and pass a budget that is balanced,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, in a statement released Tuesday night.
Included in the budget is the funding approval for a new Safe Parking Program, and a proposed 1,000 homeless shelter, located at Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street in Middletown. Negotiations are still underway for the site, which would be leased by the City for $30 million a year for the next 35 years.
Restorations submitted by city council members are largely reflective of what the community has advocated to be put back for the past several weeks. Here are programs that received majority support by council members.
Department of Race & Equity
- Community Equity Fund (Flood Recovery Program): Six council members supported a full restoration of $3.1 in the fund that would go to the San Diego Housing Commission to assist flood victims with housing set to expire on June 21.
“This is a nonstarter for me,” District 4 Councilmembner Henry Foster said at the June 7 budget hearing. “If we cannot do better to put families back in the homes in which they had to leave, then shame on us,” Foster said.
In the original budget, Mayor Gloria proposed to drain the unused fund altogether. Restorations to the fund are supported by: District 1 Joe LaCava, District 4 Henry Foster, District 6 Kent Lee, District 7 Raul Campillo, District 8 Vivian Moreno, and District 9 Sean Elo-Rivera.
- Cannabis Equity Program: Based on the support of five council members, the IBA identifies resources to restore half of the Cannabis Equity Program budget at $209,000. The program is an initiative to rectify the war on drugs.
In the original budget, this program too was slated to be shuttered in the FY 2025 cycle. Council members in support of cannabis equity restorations are: District 4 Henry Foster, District 6 Kent Lee, District 7 Raul Campillo, District 8 Vivian Moreno, and District 9 Sean-Elo Rivera.
- Youthcare and Development Program: Teen drop in centers are a critical aspect of the Youthcare and Development Program and community members fought relentlessly to keep this on the budget. Residents say these spaces are essential to remain in underfunded neighborhoods, as they provide youth with a safe space to access educational opportunities, mental health resources, job skill training and more. In the final budget, the IBA identifies $1 million to go toward this initiative.
“As a youth I wish I had a place to go like these drop in centers, to receive advice, a better way of thinking and express myself positively. Funding for these drop in centers will give these kids a place to do positive things within the community, and keep them away from jail and becoming homeless,” said Charles Darnell, Mountain View resident during public comment.
This program, originally set to be eliminated, received support from 7 council members including: District 1 Joe LaCava, District 4 Henry Foster, District 6 Kent Lee, District 7 Raul Campillo, District 8 Vivian Moreno, and District 9 Sean Elo-Rivera.
Housing and Homeless Programs
- Housing Instability Prevention Program: This program, (HIPP) helps pay rent and other housing-related expenses for families in the City of San Diego with low income and unstable housing situations, such as eviction.
“Housing instability prevention programs are a key piece in making sure that we do not have folks unnecessarily becoming homeless. We will again have the opportunity to fund that in a substantial way this year and I’m looking forward to doing that,” said District 9 Councilmember Elo-Rivera.
Five council members requested additional funding for HIPP restorations. The IBA recommends providing $1.2 million in additional funds.
- Restoration to San Diego Housing Commission: The original proposed budget called for a $15 million reduction in funding to the housing commission. This funding source is used to City-funded homeless programs, and received support from five council members for a restoration of $8 million.
Despite the city facing a $172 million structural deficit, the demand by the community concurrent at public hearings underscores the power in civic engagement.
“I have to say that this has been the most robust community engagement I have ever seen. And I’ve been here for almost 14 years. Your voice matters. It matters to me. And I think by what you’re seeing before you you’re getting a response from this council, that you have been heard,” said District 8 Councilmember Vivian Moreno.
- To learn more about the final budget feel free to visit: www.sandiego.gov/finance/proposed
- To read a break down of the budget formulated by community members visit: https://cpisandiego.org/breaking-down-fy-25-budget/
- Read more of our coverage on the 2025 budget cycle for San Diego here:
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