Mayor Gloria unveils proposed 2025 budget

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Mayor Todd Gloria unveiled his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 before the city council Monday. 

"This budget focused on progress,” said Mayor Gloria. "Protecting our progress with the homeless crisis, affordable housing, fiscal equity, and social equity and road repair.”

The $5.65 billion dollar spending plan aims to improve San Diego’s infrastructure, to continue investing in affordable housing while addressing homelessness and, at the same time, make up for a $137 million dollar deficit.

"My budget proposal is designed to keep gains intact while tightening our belts, forcing all departments to make difficult choices," Gloria said.

Core services, like the police and fire departments were mostly preserved. However, across the board, all departments were asked to cut two percent of their budget.

The programs that fell under the mayor’s ‘difficult choices’ banner were groups that mostly provide services to low income communities, the arts and climate action.

A community member expressed concerns about funding cuts impacting natural disasters, such as January's historic flooding, related to climate action monitoring and support.

The budget proposal is only the first draft in a long process. The city will have several weeks of public hearings and discussions before a revised budget comes out on May 14. The city council must adopt the official budget no later than June 30.