San Ramon Facing Structural Budget Deficit, $14.1 Million Shortfall for 2024–25 Budget Year

Residents Encouraged to Attend City Council Budget Workshop, Community Town Hall Event

San Ramon Facing Structural Budget Deficit, $14.1 Million Shortfall for 2024–25 Budget Year

Initial projections from the City of San Ramon’s Finance Department have identified a $14.1 million budget deficit for the 2024–25 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025), and a structural budget deficit across the last five years.

The City Council is scheduled to review the preliminary 2024–25 budget and budget balancing strategies, and provide direction to City staff at a special City Council Budget Workshop on Tuesday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall (7000 Bollinger Canyon Road). Further budget review will be scheduled at upcoming City Council Meetings on Tuesday, May 28 and Tuesday, June 11, with the deadline to approve a balanced budget no later than June 30, 2024.

In 2020, City revenues were impacted significantly by COVID-19, and still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. With inflation, the cost of providing services has continued to increase year over year, and City expenditures have outpaced revenues, resulting in a structural budget deficit.

The City has balanced its budget across the past five years by cutting expenditures, including freezing vacant staff positions, delaying maintenance where it was not an immediate health and safety risk, and delaying the planned replacement of equipment and vehicles.

The City initiated a Fee Study, to review where it is currently subsidizing services, and consider a higher rate of cost recovery.

The City also benefitted from outside funds in recent years. Like many communities, the City of San Ramon received one-time federal support through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and the $8.1 helped bridge the budget deficits in two fiscal years.

With the initial budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year (2024–25) projected to be $14.1 million, the City Council is holding a special Budget Workshop on Tuesday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. to review options for balancing the upcoming budget. Residents are encouraged to attend this meeting in-person at City Hall and provide input through Public Comment, or watch live on YouTube (public comment is only available for in-person participants). Residents can also provide Public Comment via email (please see the agenda for full details).

In addition to the Budget Workshop, the City of San Ramon is conducting public outreach around the City’s Financial Outlook and Funding Needs.

This includes a Resident Survey on Community Priorities (open through April 30), and an in-person Community Town Hall Event this Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the San Ramon Community Center (12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, CA 94583). At this event, City Manager Steven Spedowfski will provide a short presentation on the City’s finances, followed by an open-mic period for residents to provide input and ask questions. City Department Heads will also be in attendance to answer questions as needed.

Residents are encouraged to attend or watch Tuesday’s City Council Budget Workshop, respond to the Resident Survey online, and attend the Community Town Hall on Thursday to provide feedback on their funding priorities. Residents can also email communications@sanramon.ca.gov with additional feedback. 

> View Agenda for City Council Budget Workshop on Tuesday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m.

> Upcoming Events on City Financial Outlook and Funding Needs

> Resident Survey