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Santa Ana reviews draft 2025–26 budget with one-time funds, staffing and capital priorities on the table
Summary
City staff presented a draft fiscal 2025–26 budget that balances recurring revenues, proposes $5.7 million in one-time funds, new positions and a multi‑million dollar capital program. Councilmembers pressed for additions to sidewalks, lighting and park safety and asked for follow-up detail before adoption hearings in June.
City staff presented a draft fiscal 2025–26 general fund budget Wednesday and asked the Santa Ana City Council for direction ahead of a public hearing scheduled for June 3 and adoption planned for June 17.
The presentation, led by the city manager’s office with assistance from Assistant City Manager Kat Downs and Finance Director Alex, outlined a modest revenue outlook and a balanced recurring budget, with approximately $5,700,000 in one‑time funds remaining after proposed allocations. Staff proposed a $2 million deposit to a pension stabilization trust and listed major one‑time allocations for capital, litigation reserves, and facility improvements. The draft capital improvement program includes roughly $43.5 million for street improvements and millions more for traffic and safety projects.
The draft also lists 17 new recurring general‑fund positions and several reallocations funded in part by cuts to part‑time and contract services. Notable recurring additions cited in the presentation included new code enforcement officers, two police investigative specialists, dispatchers and a youth/adult librarian. One‑time items included $1.5 million for business‑area road improvements, $1 million for anticipated litigation costs and other targeted facility and streetscape projects.
Councilmembers asked staff for clarifying details and pushed for specific additions. Hernandez urged adding $1 million for sidewalk repairs to reduce liability and improve safety; Fan and others requested lighting at Centennial Park; multiple members asked staff to prioritize renovations to the vacant Cypress Street Fire Station and to present options for any stadium seating expansion. Council members also probed the parking enterprise fund’s roughly $1.6 million recurring deficit and asked for options to reduce it.
Staff said fee adjustments are proposed to recover costs for direct services and noted a draft 4.76% increase for some fees. The presentation also proposed a spending plan for the cannabis public benefit fund that, per ordinance, allocates more than half to youth services and listed a total proposed spend of about $8.2 million next year.
City management told the council they will return with refinements reflecting council direction and additional detail on specific items — including revenue estimates for a Bristol/Edinger parking project, the stadium proposal, and options for the parking fund — before the June hearings.
The council did not take final action at the workshop; staff requested further input and said adjustments will be reflected in the regular May 20 meeting and subsequent budget documents.
