San Gabriel kicks off FY 2026–27 budget planning; council presses for broader outreach and translation

Finance Director Kahulahula presented the fiscal year 2026–27 budget kickoff to the San Gabriel City Council on Feb. 3, laying out priorities, the budget calendar and public-engagement opportunities.

Kahulahula said the process began Jan. 28, with departments given worksheets and instructions. Key dates include department submittals by Feb. 13, a city-manager compilation by March 11, a special council budget study session on Apr. 27, a community budget meeting on May 14 at Blossom Market Hall, and a public hearing and potential adoption beginning June 2. “Tonight’s presentation will provide an overview of the budget process, outline key budget priorities, and review important dates in the upcoming budget calendar,” Kahulahula told the council.

City Manager Mark, noting that staff is implementing a new enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) system, cautioned that the city may be limited in adding new spending this year. “This may not be the year for that with the economy being what it is…we're gonna be very cautious when we present that budget to council,” Mark said.

Council members pressed staff on strategies to broaden participation. Councilmember Wu proposed using social-media platforms, community outlets and translated materials to reach more residents and asked whether the city could provide translation services (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese) for advance requests. “Will we have any way to promote our public meetings for the budgets in San Gabriel?” Wu asked.

The city’s public information officer (PIO) said the communications team can build a bilingual campaign, use multiple posts and reels, and create an online survey to gather resident priorities and deliver a summarized report to council. The PIO noted recent social-media reach—about 10,000 Instagram followers—and offered to work with finance staff on promotional materials and survey tools.

Council members and staff discussed tactics to encourage attendance at the May 14 community meeting, including a finance booth at community events or the farmers market with tablets for quick surveys, optional location fields in surveys to understand geographic response patterns, and targeted outreach through block captains and partner newsletters. Some council members suggested small incentives such as Mission Playhouse tickets; staff said they would review appropriate protocols for incentives.

Staff said they will return with outreach plans and incorporate survey tools into the engagement calendar so council members can review compiled community feedback before final budget decisions.

Next procedural steps: departments will submit projections and augmentation requests by Feb. 13; staff will prepare materials for the Apr. 27 study session and the May 14 community meeting at Blossom Market Hall.