The city, looking to close a $258 million deficit, proposes many cuts affecting services in La Jolla and citywide.
The city of San Diego’s Draft Fiscal Year 2026 Budget is in, proposing cuts to library and recreation center hours and the Budget Review Committee is hearing city departments’ budget proposals through Friday, May 9 and welcoming public comments as part of the annual budget review process.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s Draft Budget was released April 15 per City Charter requirements and attempts to tackle a $258 million budget deficit, anticipated for years due to a drop in revenue from sales tax, an increase in employee pension costs and other reasons.
In addition to cutting some services, the city has identified new revenue sources for FY 2026 including increasing parking meter rates, citation penalties,forthcoming new trash pickup fees and a hotel room tax increase.
Proposed cuts
To address the deficit, the Draft Budget includes several reduction proposals.
All libraries will be closed Sundays and Mondays, which would eliminate 71 full-time positions and $8.6 million in total expenditures.
All recreation center hours will be trimmed from operating 60 hours per week to 40 hours per week, a decrease of $6.1 million related to personnel costs.
The city would prioritize hours of highest use at each rec center.
It’s not clear yet how this would affect the many La Jolla groups that meet regularly at these locations.
The city’s Parks & Recreation Department would also scale back contracts for landscaping and maintenance and eliminate fire rings at city beaches and bays, including the three fire rings at La Jolla Shores.
Various restrooms and comfort station closures are also proposed throughout city parks, including the Kellogg Park North Comfort Station and four of eight stalls at The Children’s Pool, during slower seasons.
The draft budget proposes a total of $175.9 million in reductions across all city departments.
Budget review timeline
The public may give feedback to the Budget Review Committee through Friday, May 9 by clicking this link.
Gloria will release the May Revision to the FY 2026 budget Wednesday, May 14; the San Diego City Council will review the May Revision Monday, May 19, with a public comment period afterward at 6 pm.
The city’s Independent Budget Analyst’s report on the City Council modifications to the proposed budget will be released Friday, June 6.
The City Council is scheduled to approve the budget Tuesday, June 10. The fiscal year begins annually on July 1.
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