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Cupertino council adopts FY 2025266 budget, restores block-leader grant and trims special projects
Summary
The council unanimously adopted the cityoperating and capital budgets for fiscal year 202526'6, approved adjustments to staffing and forecasting assumptions and directed $10,000 to continue the neighborhood block-leader grant program while defunding two special projects. Council also approved a small community-festival allocation and directed a
The Cupertino City Council on June 3 adopted the fiscal year 202526'6 operating and capital budgets and related financial resolutions, and voted unanimously on a set of supplemental adjustments to the work program and special projects. Council instructions and votes addressed staffing requests, a vacancy-rate assumption in the long-term forecast, and a small set of one-time projects.
Budget actions in brief
- The council adopted the fiscal 202526'6 operating and capital budgets as presented by administrative services staff. The recommended budget across all funds is $136,063,401 for operating and capital. Staff said recommended general-fund revenues were projected at $133,654,373 and total appropriations at $130,063,401 after adjustments. - Staff told the council it had adjusted the assumed vacancy rate in the forecast to 6% for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to reflect recent historical salary savings; that change helped present a balanced general-fund budget for FY26 in the forecast. - The council approved the capital improvement program (CIP) included in the proposed budget and directed standard next steps for quarterly financial updates.
Community grants and special projects
A portion of the councildiscussion focused on funding for community events and staff-proposed "special projects" carried from FY24 into FY25. Parks staff had earlier recommended a list of community grants for local organizations. During council debate, Mayor Chow moved to add $3,000 for this year's Asian American parents association multicultural festival; council later adopted an amendment to restore the neighborhood "block leader" grant program with $10,000 in ongoing community funding after asking staff to continue outreach to block leaders and improve program publicity.
Council also approved staff recommendations to defund two items from the city's list of carryover work-program projects because work could be completed with existing staff or had not started. Staff reported remaining special-project appropriations of about $41.6 million across all funds on March 31, 2025; some projects were completed under budget and returned savings at third-quarter accounting.
What staff said
Christina Alvaro, Director of Administrative Services, and acting budget staff presented the final adjustments made since the May study session. Alvaro said the net increase to the recommended budget since the proposed version was printed was $65,966; that figure reflected adding an administrative assistant for the city clerk offset by other position eliminations and classification changes. Antonio Anderson, the acting budget manager, summarized changes in revenues and expenditures and the city's plan for the year.
Public comment and commission input
Speakers during the public-comment period urged the council to move a delayed Stevens Creek Corridor vision item back onto the calendar, supported continued funding of the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and urged careful review of any fee changes that would affect restaurants. Several speakers urged the council not to cancel ATP funding because, they said, the plan is largely grant-funded and already well under way.
Final vote and next steps
The council voted unanimously on the budget adoption motions, including itemized adjustments approved during the final hearing. Council directed staff to return with a first-quarter financial report in November 2025 and requested additional information on CIP priorities and community-funding allocations. Staff will implement the restored $10,000 block-leader grant program and the $3,000 festival allocation noted in council amendments.
"This reflects the additional $65,966 increase in appropriations," Director Alvaro told the council when she summarized changes since the proposed budget was printed, adding that the number came from a single added administrative assistant and offsetting eliminations in other requests.
Council asked staff to publish clearer, consolidated budget and CIP documents next year so the public and council members have the final materials in the agenda packet at adoption.
