Cupertino council adopts FY2025–26 budget, approves changes to special projects and community grants

Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao and the City Council unanimously adopted the city's final fiscal year 2025'26 operating and capital budgets on a motion that included several staff-recommended adjustments and a small amendment to the community grants list.

The action finalizes a consolidated budget of $136,063,401 in operating and capital appropriations across all funds. Acting Budget Manager Antonio Ase Anderson told the council, “Overall staff is recommending a budget across all funds for operating and capital of $136,063,401.” The council also voted on separate direction for special projects and city work program items that were carried over from FY2024'25.

The adopted budget reflects staff updates after the proposed document was printed on May 1 and includes an increase of $65,966 in appropriations tied primarily to staffing adjustments. Director of Administrative Services Christina Delfarro summarized the hearing as “the final final adoption of the budget,” and said staff had separated the FY2025'26 budget adoption from changes proposed for special projects that relate to FY2024'25.

Why this matters: The council's action establishes spending and appropriation limits for the coming fiscal year, sets staffing and vacancy assumptions used in the long'term forecast, and directs staff to return to council with quarter'end financial reports. Those choices affect service levels, capital planning and the city's use of reserves.

Major numbers and assumptions - Total recommended appropriations (operating + capital): $136,063,401. - Recommended revenues across all funds: $133,654,373. - General fund drivers noted by staff: property tax up about $2.2 million, franchise fees up about $900,000, and higher intergovernmental revenue (including…