Against the backdrop of a surging deficit and ongoing legal turmoil over alleged Brown Act violations, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer will present his multi-million-dollar budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year to the City Council at this Thursday’s meeting.
The mayor will make his presentation on Thursday before a series of follow-up hearings are held as city employees and the general public lobby for more funds for their respective needs.
After budget hearings, the Mayor’s administration typically goes into private budget negotiations with members of the city council. The city is currently getting sued over holding those negotiations in private for the last five years, and it’s unclear how that litigation could impact the process this year.
The budget is set to be finalized and approved by the Fresno City Council on either June 20 or June 27, depending on how fast negotiations progress.
What is the city budget?
The city budget is a document that shows how the city’s annual funds will be dispersed throughout its many departments. The city’s fiscal year runs from July through June.
Over the last few months, city employees have been meeting with the mayor’s office to discuss how much money they need to achieve their goals. Dyer’s first presentation on Thursday will include a rough draft based on those requests.
Much of the rest of the drafting process goes public, where Fresnans will also be able to include their input for the city’s consideration.
Notably, the city has been allegedly holding some of these meetings in private, which experts say appears to violate the Brown Act. Following an exclusive Fresnoland investigation last year, the ACLU and First Amendment Coalition sued the city, demanding more budget transparency. The case remains open in Fresno County Superior Court.
“Informal” groups have sprung up as a result of the litigation, though it remains to be seen whether the public will get better access as a result.
What should I be looking for?
This will be the final fiscal year that the city gets to plan how to spend its American Rescue Plan Act funds. Though the ARPA funds don’t have to be spent until Dec. 31, 2026, the funds must be committed to an expense by the end of 2024.
Also, the city is looking at a projected $47 million budget deficit. The projection has grown from the previous $37 million previously reported by Fresnoland.
The mayor’s proposal on Thursday will need to look at cost-cutting measures to keep the city on budget.
City leaders have said the deficit is the result of lower-than-expected revenue coupled with increased costs associated with an aggressive hiring spree last year at the city’s police and fire departments.
How can I participate?
Starting Thursday, a series of budget meetings will be publicly held, allowing residents to have a moment to add their input for city consideration as they finalize the budget.
Residents can also participate virtually through the Zoom link that can be found on meeting agendas. You can register to join Thursday’s Zoom meeting here.
When are the meetings?
The first meeting will be during this upcoming Fresno City Council meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16.
The budget presentation is the only item on the agenda that will be discussed at the meeting.
After Thursday’s initial meeting, the budget hearings will be held at the council chambers on:
Monday, June 3 at 9 a.m.
Tuesday, June 4 at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, June 5 at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, June 12 at 9 a.m.
The budget is set to be finalized and approved by the Fresno City Council on either June 20 or June 27, depending on how fast negotiations progress after the formal budget hearings conclude.