Controller Kenneth Mejia is kicking off the City’s budget season by hosting a virtual Budget - and Finance Town Hall on Thursday, February 27 at 8 PM where he will discuss the City’s budget and finances as well as answer questions. You will need to register. 

Since taking office in late 2022, Mejia has been vocal about the City’s budget deficits and years of short term balance budget balancing measures at the cost of long term fiscal sustainability.  There are departmental over expenditures, overly optimistic revenue projections and subsequent revenue shortfalls, the increase in liability claims, the impact of new labor agreements, and the depletion of the Reserve Fund.  And now the City needs to address the fiscal stress from the impact from the firestorm disaster. 

Mejia has also made a number of common sense recommendations, including, but not limited to, the following: 

·      Implement a two year budget cycle

·      Develop a five year strategic plan to fix the City’s finances

·      Develop an infrastructure plan to address the City’s deferred maintenance needs

·      Reform the City’s budgeting process and priorities 

The Controller will be issuing his charter mandated Revenue Forecast Report for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year within the week.  This will provide us with insight into the City’s seven economically sensitive taxes (Property, Business, Sales, Utility, Hotel, Documentary Transfer, and Parking Occupancy comprise about 75% of General Fund revenue) and the impact of the wildfires on these taxes. 

This revenue estimate does not address appropriations and the General Fund and overall budget.  We will need to wait until April 20 when the Mayor submits her Proposed Budget to the City Council for its consideration.