Glendale budget proposal trims $34.5 million shortfall to $13.7 million with mix of cuts, deferrals and staff reductions

Glendale City officials presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget that trims a starting shortfall of roughly $34.5 million down to about $13.7 million through a combination of defunded vacant positions, targeted maintenance-and-operations reductions and deferred capital projects.

The plan, shown to the City Council at a May 20 special budget study session, covers all six city funds and proposes $1.227 billion in combined appropriations across enterprise, internal service, general fund and capital programs. City staff said the general fund proposed appropriation is $352.3 million, with 67% of that dedicated to public safety (police and fire).

City budget staff framed the package as a blend of one-time deferrals and structural changes. Proposed actions include removing funding for a number of long-vacant positions (holding FTEs in a non-departmental “holding” account), canceling several interfund transfers to CIP, fleet and building maintenance, and postponing some capital improvement projects to fiscal year 2026–27. Staff noted increased health insurance and liability insurance costs as notable drivers of the budget gap.

Council members asked for detailed follow-up on multiple line items — including the Urban Art Fund balance, specifics of deferred CIP projects and the composition of non-departmental positions — and staff promised to return with targeted answers at follow-up study sessions set for June 4 and June 12 ahead of a June 24 budget adoption hearing.

Next steps lay out three remaining dates: the June 4 study session for deep dives on GWP public benefit programs, fleet and capital improvement program projects; June 12 for follow-ups; and June 24 for budget adoption. Staff emphasized that some items in the proposal are shifting funds between city accounts rather than representing new citywide spending.