San Diego’s May Budget Revise Restores Neighborhood Services, Leaves Arts Funding Cut

Overview

• Mayor Todd Gloria released a revised FY27 budget Wednesday that brings back select library and recreation hours and keeps staffing for December Nights.
• The plan protects hours in Districts 4, 8, and 9, keeps the North Clairemont Library open, adds Monday service in Carmel Valley, boosts youth drop‑in centers by $500,000, and directs opioid settlement funds to UC San Diego and the San Diego LGBT Community Center.
• New money comes from a small rise in hotel occupancy taxes and roughly $4.0–$4.3 million counted as rent from city golf courses under new legal guidance.
• Nearly $12 million in arts and culture grants remains cut, with arts groups warning of canceled programs and layoffs if funding is not restored.
• The proposal maintains police and fire levels and prioritizes safety, street repairs, homelessness response, and housing, while council debate through June 9 will also weigh a $2 million license‑plate reader system criticized by Councilmember Sean Elo‑Rivera.