Introducing Mayor Gloria’s Proposed ‘Getting It Done’ Budget
I am proud to announce my “Getting It Done” proposed budget for fiscal year 2024, which starts July 1. This budget is a prudent, balanced plan that preserves current service levels in all departments with strategic added spending on top issues like street repair, homelessness and public safety.
The proposal is geared toward delivering on the major investments we made in my first two budgets, which were heavily focused on post-pandemic recovery and infrastructure.
To address homelessness, my proposed budget adds $24.5 million dollars in ongoing spending to maintain and operate the shelter capacity we’ve added, plus dedicates another $5 million to further shelter expansion.
It also prioritizes fixing our damn roads! We’re allocating nearly $140 million toward street repair and resurfacing. The bulk of that funding – $104 million – is for full repaving and is a substantial increase over last year’s $18 million. This investment in San Diego’s streets will allow us to resurface 157 miles of road – or approximately the distance from here to the Arizona border.
My “Getting It Done” proposed budget also works to help keep our communities safe. This year, we’re adding resources to help our Fire, Police and Lifeguards do their jobs more effectively.
Further supporting our law enforcement efforts, we’ll be deploying of $4.4 million in opioid settlement funds. Of these dollars, $2.7 million will fund harm-reduction and safe-haven shelters. The balance will be split between the PLEADS restorative justice program, fentanyl-detection equipment and our Fire-Rescue department’s Resource Access Program, which is for high-needs frequent emergency medical services users.
We’re adding two lifeguards to La Jolla Shores, including one for the winter months to give the popular beach year-round coverage, and we’re funding advanced training to make sure we have lifeguards trained to perform some of the most challenging rescues.
This budget is forward-looking, funding reserves at a responsible level and holding back some of our surplus funds in anticipation of a potential softening of the economy in the coming years. We don’t want to be profligate now at the risk of cutting services to address deficits later.
I'm presenting the budget formally to the City Council next Monday, and the City Council’s Budget Review process will consist of department-level public hearings leading up to the release of a revised budget on May 18 that incorporates City Council and community feedback. Final consideration by the City Council will take place in mid-June, with adoption of an appropriation ordinance by June 30.
My colleagues on the City Council, City managers and all our workers are driven by a desire to make San Diego the great city we know it can be. My “Getting It Done” budget helps us get there.
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