The Chula Vista City Council voted unanimously last week to adopt a $661 million operating and capital improvement budget for fiscal year 2026-27, a $43.8 million increase over this year’s spending plan.
The budget, which takes effect July 1 and runs through June 30, 2027, allocates $318.1 million to the general fund, which covers core city services including police, fire, parks and libraries. An additional $40.3 million is designated for capital improvement projects.
Estimated revenues for the coming fiscal year total $653.1 million — roughly $7.9 million less than projected expenditures. City officials said the gap will be covered by prior-year fund balances.
The council approved the budget across multiple votes, with several members recusing themselves from specific resolutions due to property holdings near affected open space and community facilities districts. Mayor John McCann, Councilmembers Carolina Chavez and Michael Inzunza all recused themselves from at least one resolution. All resolutions passed.
During deliberations, Councilmember Jose Preciado offered broad praise for the city’s fiscal management, crediting years of sustained planning.
“This city has a balanced budget,” Preciado said. “It’s been happening over planning and planning and planning that happens over years. Our current staff are the current custodians of that.”
Preciado also noted that Measure P — a sales tax measure extended by voters in recent years — had passed with 72% public approval, calling it an expression of community confidence in how the city manages public funds.
The budget adds a net of four full-time positions citywide, including two parking enforcement officers, a deputy city attorney, a human resources manager and an emergency services manager, among others.
A public survey conducted in February and March drew 303 respondents, who identified public safety, infrastructure maintenance and community programs as their top budget priorities.
Following adoption of the final resolution, McCann commended city staff for their work throughout the process.
“I think it just shows you what a great job this city does at our budget where we didn’t have a lot of people who were unhappy about the budget this year,” McCann said.