Overview
- Mayor Todd Gloria’s $6.4 billion draft, released Wednesday, shields police and fire and trims library and recreation hours, pauses arts grants, and scales back some bike-lane work.
- Gloria cites falling hotel-tax revenue, rising pension costs and inflation for the shortfall and says the plan closes the gap without broad revenue hikes.
- The proposal goes to a public presentation at the City Council on April 20, with budget hearings set for May 4–8, a revised plan due May 13 and a final vote targeted for June 9.
- A San Diego County Taxpayers Association study reported a 461% jump in middle-management roles since 2011, and the mayor proposes cutting 48 management jobs.
- Municipal labor leaders back the “responsible” approach, while arts groups, street-safety advocates and a major homelessness provider warn of lost programs and slower progress on safer roads.