Mayor DeBart used a Dec. 2 State of the City program to highlight tourism‑driven gains in Palm Springs and to announce major capital investments intended to sustain the city’s visitor economy.

DeBart said visitor spending in Palm Springs last year totaled about $1.9 billion and that 11,343 local jobs are supported by tourism. He noted the general fund grew by roughly $7 million in the past year and that the city is budgeting $173 million in general fund revenue for fiscal 2026 while warning of an expected downturn that could reduce revenues by about 6.5 percent.

The mayor announced a $125 million renovation and expansion of the Palm Springs Convention Center, which he said will modernize the facility and create a new pedestrian‑friendly district to connect downtown to the center. "This investment not only ensures the center will remain a cornerstone of our tourism economy, but we will also create a lively pedestrian friendly district," DeBart said.

DeBart also described a $2.9 billion Palm Springs International Airport modernization project now in environmental review to add gates, improve passenger flow and amenities and support new nonstop routes. City officials noted PSP served about 3.2 million passengers and has added new routes in 2025 and 2026.

Measure J, a 1 percent sales tax the city uses for capital projects, generated about $24 million this year and $215 million since its inception; DeBart said Measure J revenues funded street paving, library support and park and public safety projects. The mayor cited specific Measure J allocations including $6 million for street paving and slurry seal work and $42 million allocated to the Palm Springs Library project.

Other highlights included a $405 million, 167,000‑square‑foot College of the Desert West Valley campus under construction and a recently completed $34 million restoration of the Plaza Theatre, which DeBart said will draw cultural events and visitors. He credited public‑private partnerships and named lead donors and management partners involved in the projects.

Public safety investments were another focal point: DeBart described a new police‑fire drone program, an upgraded police command center, automated license‑plate readers and a downtown public‑safety substation housing an impact team and a Community Behavioral Assessment Team (CBAT). DeBart framed technology as a force multiplier amid staffing challenges for first responders.

The mayor closed the program by asking residents and visitors to support local businesses and calling again for coordinated attention to housing, infrastructure and services that support both residents and the visitor economy. The event concluded with recognition of local entrepreneurs and an invitation to a community reception.