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San Bernardino unveils balanced FY2025–26 budget proposal, $29.6M in CIP projects and six‑month hiring pause
Summary
City staff presented a proposed balanced Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget projection that relies on conservative revenue assumptions, a six‑month targeted non‑safety hiring deferral estimated to save $8.1 million, and nearly $30 million in proposed capital improvement projects funded in part with Measure S and special funds.
City staff on Tuesday presented a proposed balanced Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget for the City of San Bernardino that combines modest revenue growth, operational trims and a large capital program.
The presentation, led by the city manager’s office with Finance Director Jeannie Fortune and Budget Division Manager Zuiva Ruiz, projects revenues rising moderately to about $228.2 million and asks departments to cut operational spending by 5%. Staff proposed a six‑month targeted non‑safety hiring deferral estimated to save about $8.1 million and the use of designated capital improvement project (CIP) reserves to advance projects.
The budget team described the revenue forecast as conservative, citing national and state economic uncertainty and local reliance on sales tax. “We are committing to providing quarterly reports to council for the following year,” Finance Director Jeannie Fortune said, describing how staff will monitor conditions and return to council if revenue strengthens or weakens.
City Engineer Azam outlined the CIP program, proposing about $29.6 million in new projects for 2025–26 and noting existing CIP funding needs of roughly $16.4 million. Azam said the total CIP budget under consideration is about $209 million after combining existing and proposed projects. “Projects can take up to four years to deliver,” Azam said, describing common design, environmental and utility conflict delays that push schedules.
Major projects called out in the presentation include renovation of the California Theatre, modular building additions and rehabilitation at the animal shelter, completion of the Mount Vernon bridge with an anticipated substantial completion date in August 2025, Spiker Park skate‑park and Nicholson Park improvements, a proposed diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at I‑215 and University Parkway, and a renewed focus on an expanded pavement program.
Staff said the proposed CIP funding breakdown includes roughly $13.3 million from Measure S and about $16.5 million from special funds (development impact fees, RMRA/gas tax and related sources). Even after the proposed spending of roughly $23.7 million from designated CIP reserves, staff said the city’s reserves would remain strong — about 75 percent under the presented assumptions — well above the 25 percent minimum in the municipal code.
Council members asked for a detailed line‑item presentation in the next workshop. Council and staff agreed to hold a second budget workshop on May 22 at 5:30 p.m. to review account‑level items and other operational details before adoption later in the fiscal year.
A procedural motion to continue the meeting past 10 p.m. under Resolution 2024‑029 was made and approved unanimously before the council continued discussion and scheduling. The staff presentation closed with the city manager and finance staff thanking the teams for producing a balanced draft.
Next steps: staff will present a more detailed line‑by‑line budget at the May 22 workshop, provide quarterly fiscal updates during FY2025–26, and return to council for formal budget adoption prior to the July 1 start of the fiscal year.
