Fresno City Council approves $2.36 billion budget for next fiscal year

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- For weeks, the Fresno City Council pored over the mayor's proposed budget, hearing explanations and pleas for funding from department heads, local organizations, and citizens.

On Tuesday morning, before the council took a vote, two advocates made final requests to the council specifically for housing programs.

"And also investments on the Eviction Protection Plan," said Rosa de Leon, Power of California Action. "I think it's important to increase that budget at least to $2.5 million at least to start and to continue with the demand that there is."

"Costs will continue to increase, wages will remain stagnant, which will undoubtedly impact low-income families the most," said Giovanna Morales, Leadership Council.

The council passed the budget, but did not fully meet those specific requests.

"Out of our local housing trust fund we're funding $1.5 million for the Eviction Protection Program," said Mayor Jerry Dyer. "Those are not General Fund monies; initially, they were, we've shifted."

To balance the more than $2.3 billion budget every department, except the city council and the fire department, was asked to cut five percent to help close the more than $20 million deficit.

The mayor acknowledged the difficulties created by reduced funding from the federal government.

"Certainly more challenging than years past as a result of the fact of that we have not had the outside revenue from American Rescue Funds, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, CARES Act, etc," said Dyer.

Councilmember Nelson Esparza was the only one with a partial no vote on one specific portion of the budget.

"I'm voting yes on this budget, but I do need to register my 'No' vote on Part D, my annual objection to the Gann Limit," said Esparza.

The councilmember was referring to the California constitutional spending cap that limits how much state and local governments can spend using tax revenue.

Otherwise, the budget passed, and final approval was received in under an hour.

The mayor said there are still 12 labor contracts that need to be solidified, but he hoped to have that done by August.

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