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San Bernardino adopts 2025–26 budget with one‑time spending for parks, sidewalks, trees and public safety
Summary
The council adopted the fiscal‑year 2025–26 operating budget and 2026–30 capital program and approved one‑time allocations from fund balance for homeless‑cleanup crews, stump removal, sidewalks and police vehicles while directing staff on park restroom operations.
The San Bernardino City Council adopted the city’s proposed fiscal‑year 2025–26 operating budget and 2026–30 capital improvement program on June 4, approving the plan after multiple council amendments to add one‑time funding for specific needs.
City finance staff presented a balanced general‑fund budget of about $228.2 million in operating revenues and described a proposed use of $31.2 million of fund balance to advance capital infrastructure and one‑time projects. The budget package includes a targeted 5 percent reduction in department operating budgets and a six‑month hiring deferral estimated to save roughly $8.1 million.
During the public hearing and subsequent deliberations, council members moved and approved amendments that directed one‑time allocations from the city’s unassigned fund balance for near‑term needs: - $124,800 for homeless‑encampment cleanup crews (account 0156); - $500,000 to remove and stump‑grind an estimated 2,500–3,000 dead street trees; and - $1,000,000 for prioritized sidewalk repairs across the city, aimed at reducing trip‑and‑fall exposures.
The council also approved setting aside $2,000,000 for police vehicle acquisition and outfitting to address a shortfall in patrol cars (final vote 4–2, with Councilmembers Flores and Ortiz opposed). On park bathrooms, council did not approve a direct appropriation; instead members voted unanimously to direct staff to return in 30 days with specific options and cost estimates for reopening and maintaining park restrooms.
Finance staff reiterated that the budget draws $31.2 million of fund balance largely for capital projects and that the city is maintaining fund‑balance targets substantially above minimum reserve policy. Staff also said the budget includes a staffing plan with an estimated 959 authorized positions for FY25‑26, down slightly from the previous year.
Councilmembers said they viewed the one‑time allocations as investments that reduce safety risks and respond to public concerns about sidewalks, trees, homelessness cleanups and public‑safety vehicle availability. The city manager and department directors will be asked to return with implementation plans and to identify specific procurement or contract actions needed to deliver the projects.
