The Santa Ana City Council will review a proposed $778.4 million budget Tuesday, June 3, as the city works toward meeting a July 31 adoption deadline.
Councilmembers’ decision will affect how one of the largest cities in Orange County operates, what services are provided and how taxpayer dollars are spent in the next fiscal year.
The city’s general fund — the main pot of money that pays for everyday services — is expected to bring in $413.8 million in revenue for the 2025-26 fiscal year, up $6.8 million from this year’s $407 million. Meanwhile, planned spending is projected at $424.2 million.
Police services will remain the biggest chunk of day-to-day spending. The Santa Ana Police Department is set to receive a budget of $161.6 million, which would pay for more civilian staff, gang prevention efforts and body cameras.
The proposed budget also includes $22.7 million to operate the city jail and $3.2 million to expand ambulance services, including $900,000 for an extra ambulance.
To fund many of these services, the city relies partly on Measure X, a local 1.5% sales tax voters approved in 2018. It’s expected to raise $83.9 million next year and helps fund everything from homelessness prevention to park upkeep to graffiti and street cleanups.
The sales tax is set to expire in 2029.
The city manager’s office will start preparing for the tax’s sunset by coming up with a plan to taper the budget and helping the community understand what it could mean, city officials said.
Among its everyday spending, totaling roughly $58 million for public works and infrastructure, the budget proposal sets aside $13 million for park maintenance, $5 million for traffic and transportation improvements, $3.5 million for paving, $1 million each for sidewalk repairs and crossing guards and $250,000 to add a left-turn signal at MacArthur Boulevard and Flower Street.
Parks and recreation services are proposed to see just under $15.3 million spent, slightly less than the current year’s $16.1 million budget. This will include around $8.5 million to cover staffing and services related to city-run recreation programs and community events and $3.6 million for the zoo.
Library services are in for a boost, jumping to $8.6 million from $7.9 million budgeted for the current fiscal year. The increase would pay for a second bookmobile, more Wi-Fi hotspots and digital content, as well as new staff. The city has also budgeted $235,320 more toward reopening the Main and Newhope branches with updated technology and STEM programming.
Cannabis tax income is estimated at $12.7 million, which helps pay for youth, library and recreation programs.
The proposed budget also calls for adding or maintaining several staff positions, including the Vietnamese community liaison position the city approved in 2021. Some one-time costs include $250,000 for parking lot improvements at Bristol Street and Edinger Avenue, another $250,000 for new bus shelters and replacements and $1.3 million for lighting at Centennial Park.
It also sets aside money for art and culture projects, including $150,000 for the monthly Art Walk and $200,000 in arts funding.
The council is expected to vote on the budget on June 17, with the budget needing to be adopted by July 31 according to city rules.