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Residents and speakers press council for budget clarity after failed sales‑tax proposal
Summary
Multiple public commenters criticized council messaging around a proposed sales‑tax ballot measure and urged the city to present cuts and alternatives before asking voters for more revenue; a public commenter also called for an audit after citing $21 million in police and fire overtime for 2025.
Public comment at the Aug. 11 Glendale City Council meeting focused heavily on the city's fiscal condition and recent special‑meeting rhetoric about a proposed sales‑tax measure that did not go to voters.
"You used fear, misleading claims about where the money would go," a five‑minute speaker told the council, criticizing the council's framing during the special meeting and urging officials to show proposed cuts and explain how general‑fund revenues would be allocated. The speaker argued that placing a general sales tax on the ballot does not legally bind the council to spend revenue for police, fire, libraries or senior services; those spending decisions would still be made subsequently by the council.
Separately, public commenter Herbert Milano urged the council to order an internal audit of police and fire overtime, saying, "In calendar year 2025, police and fire overtime alone totaled more than $21,000,000." He said some overtime hours lacked recorded purpose and recommended an audit before asking voters for more revenue.
Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff would continue internal review processes and return with additional information during budget sessions; they also reiterated that no sales tax measure is currently on the ballot because council did not declare a fiscal emergency by the required unanimity.
