A sailboat cruises past the San Diego skyline in San Diego Harbor on Jul. 28. 2015.
San Diego, California – San Diego is facing a daunting $258 million budget deficit, and city leaders are weighing dramatic cuts to public services in an effort to close the gap. Mayor Todd Gloria unveiled his draft budget on Monday, describing the proposal as a difficult but necessary starting point in what he called a “larger conversation.”
Among the proposed cuts: eliminating all 184 fire pits on city beaches and bays, closing libraries on Sundays and Mondays, reducing recreation center hours by 33%, and cutting $1.5 million from arts and culture funding. The plan also includes a 20% reduction in funding for the Humane Society, seasonal closures of park restrooms, the elimination of 400 jobs, and reductions to services at city facilities.
“This is a difficult budget year,” Gloria said during Monday’s City Council meeting. “San Diego is facing serious financial headwinds brought on by broader economic volatility, including international tariffs and a longstanding structural deficit.”
While the budget includes $175 million in cuts, it does offer increased funding for law enforcement and fire protection. The San Diego Police Department would receive over $29 million to hire more officers, and the Fire-Rescue Department is set to receive $24 million in additional funding. However, city staff assured that cuts to the Northeastern SDPD substation would not impact patrol staffing levels.
The proposed cuts sparked swift backlash from residents and community leaders. Public comment lasted over 90 minutes, with a large majority opposing the budget draft. City staff reported receiving 1,100 written objections and only six letters of support.
“Arts and culture funding is an investment, not a handout,” said Christine Martinez, Director of Arts+Culture:SD, defending the city’s creative economy, which she noted employs more than 17,000 people. Others highlighted the vital role libraries play in underserved communities.
Francine Maxwell, a community specialist, criticized the plan’s impact on residents lacking basic resources like Wi-Fi. “Closing on Sundays and Mondays says a lot about your moral compass,” she said. “Start cutting the fat at the top, not from the working class.”
Councilmember Vivian Moreno voiced deep concerns about the disproportionate effect of the cuts on communities of color. “I will not be supporting something that has such drastic cuts,” she said.
Public hearings on the proposed budget will take place throughout May. A revised version is expected by May 14, with a final City Council vote scheduled for June 10 — just weeks before the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
