In an unexpected display of unanimity, the Oakland City Council approved a new two-year budget on Wednesday, wrapping up the $4.2 billion spending plan three weeks ahead of the legal deadline.
Councilmember Noel Gallo stood as the sole dissenting voice in the vote, while Councilmember Carroll Fife was absent.
Unlike previous years marked by contentious debates and protracted negotiations over spending allocations, this budget approval was described by its authors as a pragmatic approach prioritizing “the essentials.”
The city is grappling with a $265 million deficit and is bracing for potential reductions in federal and state funding.
Councilmember Zac Unger characterized the approved budget as a “Nobody’s Happy Budget,” reflecting the tough choices required in its formulation.
“There are lots of things I’d like to spend on that we simply don’t have money for,” Unger commented.
The council’s decision emphasized a focus on core city services, limiting additional investments to avert deepening the city’s financial crisis.
The adopted budget notably prioritizes public safety with several significant allocations:
It ensures that all 25 fire stations in Oakland remain operational and includes funding for 678 police officers, marking a modest increase in the police force size.
In a further commitment to public safety, five police training academies are funded with larger-than-usual class sizes.
Moreover, the city budget sets aside $1.4 million to tackle sideshow events, $1 million for traffic safety improvements, and over $1 million aimed at combating illegal dumping through investments in drones and camera technology.
Economic development is also a focal point of the new funding plan:
The budget allocates $3 million toward a business incentive program, along with $1 million for community safety ambassadors and another $1 million to create “entertainment activation” zones.
To finance these initiatives, the council approved a budget that reduces numerous vacant staff positions and implements cuts to some upper administrative roles.
However, a number of planned layoffs were spared during the discussions, thanks to an additional $3 million allocated by the council budget team.
Looking ahead, the budget anticipates a $40 million parcel tax in 2026 aimed at bolstering public safety, along with an expected $2.3 million contract with a billboard company pending approval.
The budget also projects to recapture around $1.7 million from uncollected business taxes, which will further support the city’s financial stability.
Last year’s budget was heavily reliant on a substantial influx from the sale of the Coliseum, a deal that has been delayed for over a year, forcing the council to make emergency cuts to address fiscal needs.
Councilmember Janani Ramachandran remarked on the grave lessons the council learned from those circumstances, emphasizing their determination to avoid repeating past mistakes.
In a pointed critique, Fife expressed her discontent with aspects of the new budget, particularly over the expected reliance on pending billboard revenue.
During a committee meeting, she raised concerns about equating the future billboard funds with the anticipated windfall from the Coliseum sale, labeling the comparison as inadequate.
Support for the budget came from members of the council who argued that the proposed parcel tax represents a more sustainable financial strategy compared to the one-time revenue generated by the Coliseum sale.
Consultant Ben Rosenfield highlighted the importance of crafting a “roadmap” for fiscal sustainability in Oakland, which will include measures to manage unfunded pensions and enhance tax collection.
Amid this financial restructuring, the budget faced criticism for cuts to cultural funding, notably the elimination of the cultural affairs manager position, responsible for overseeing the city’s public art programs and securing grants.
Artists and community members rallied to plead for the restoration of this role, firmly advocating for the arts’ role in economic revitalization.
Oakland Ballet Artistic Director Graham Lustig underscored the importance of cultural initiatives, noting that the city’s art programs provide crucial educational opportunities to thousands of students.
Also expressing their concerns, Oakland Symphony Music Director Kedrick Armstrong emphasized that cultural endeavors are integral to defining the city’s identity.
While many advocates traversed the council chambers asking for more investment in arts, senior services, and libraries, Councilmember Ramachandran explained that the budget authors intended to prioritize funding for frontline staff over administrative positions with high salaries.
Just before the budget vote, Councilmember Rowena Brown suggested reallocating $300,000 from the entertainment zones budget to reinstate the cultural affairs position.
However, the proposal failed to gain traction among her colleagues, leading to the budget vote proceeding without changes.
Disagreement also arose concerning the allocation of $1 million for the city’s Homelessness Prevention Pilot Program, which is designed to assist families at risk of homelessness.
Councilmember Ken Houston voiced his skepticism about the program’s necessity and suggested redirecting those funds toward addressing litter and hazardous waste issues in the city.
In response, Emily Weinstein, Oakland’s housing director, highlighted the program’s previous success in preventing homelessness among vulnerable populations.
This discussion ultimately swayed Houston, resulting in his vote in favor of the budget.
Throughout the session, councilmembers commended city staff and each other for their collaborative approach in navigating the city’s fiscal challenges and achieving budget approval without deeper cuts.
Deborah Edgerly, a former city staffer engaged as a consultant during this budget process, praised the effective and transparent dialogue.
Mayor Barbara Lee released a statement following the budget passage, applauding the council for their efforts and noting that the budget aligns with several key priorities set for her first 100 days in office.
image source from：https://oaklandside.org/2025/06/11/oakland-budget-adopted-illegal-dumping-police/
