2027-2028 City Budget

A Message from Mayor Ishii

Our city budget process for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 is underway and we are confronting a longstanding structural deficit of $30 million per year that we cannot afford to ignore.

Simply put, the revenue we currently receive does not cover the costs of running our city. It would be fiscally irresponsible to continue on this path. We’ve addressed this imbalance in the past with reliance on one-time funding, such as pandemic-era relief, instead of adopting long-term solutions.

Our goal is clear: Ensure Berkeley’s financial health and stability now and into the future.

To do that, we will need to make some difficult decisions. Painful cuts are being considered across all offices and departments, including my own and the City Council. Additional reductions may be held at bay if voters approve the half-cent sales tax that will appear on the November ballot.

These are not just numbers on a page. They represent the dedicated city employees who keep the City of Berkeley running every day. Jobs are at stake, and while we are working to minimize layoffs, city services might be impacted.

We have also been focused on revenue generation. I’ve been promoting our local hotels and businesses and identifying strategies for improving our collection of fees. The Council is moving forward with a sales and use tax and an infrastructure bond to address our on-going and deferred maintenance.

We are at the beginning of this process, and public input will be critical.

Here is the full calendar of upcoming meetings:

Budget and Finance Committee meetings:

  • April 16, 2026 | 10:00 AM

  • April 23, 2026 | 10:00 AM

  • May 14, 2026 | 10:00 AM

Full City Council Meetings:

  • May 19, 2026: First hearing to discuss City Manager’s Proposed Budget

  • June 16, 2026: Potential Discussion on Revised Biennial Budget

  • June 23, 2026: City Council adopts Biennial Budget

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Thank you for your continued engagement and participation in your local government. Together, we will navigate these challenges and emerge a more resilient Berkeley.

-Mayor Ishii