Without the benefit of federal dollars found in budgets past and still waiting on a $200 million state commitment, the Fresno City Council passed a balanced budget on Tuesday.

At a budget hearing, the council approved Mayor Jerry Dyer’s $2.4 billion spending plan. The final step was for Dyer to reconcile 82 council budget motions — $55 million — and keep the budget balanced.

Dyer compared stretching the budget to the Biblical parable of Jesus feeding 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread.

“This has been a challenging budget year, certainly more challenging than years past,” the second-term mayor said at a news conference after the budget passage.

Dyer filled in what was a $50 million hole by reducing spending in most departments by 5% and keeping a 6% employee vacancy rate.

The budget no longer has the benefit of federal pandemic relief funds, Dyer said. Also, labor and other costs increased. Sales tax was lower than previous years, and funds from legal cannabis taxes have been lower than projected.

In 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged $250 million to Fresno to fix downtown infrastructure. While $50 million came in the 2023-24 budget cycle, the remainder has been delayed by at least two years because of the state’s budget challenges.

Reconciling Budget Motions

Dyer told the council he was able to fully or partially fund 47 of 82 budget motions made, adjusting $14.8 million. Only 12 motions were outright rejected — others were able to be funded through other sources, or delayed until mid-year.

Motions that made it, as highlighted during council speeches:

• Several parks and repair projects;
• $1 million for mobile home repairs;
• $250,000 for Advance Peace, the anti-gun violence program.

Some items that did not make it:

• $200,000 for light post upgrades in downtown Fresno;
• $400,000 for the Mobile Food Vendor Program;
• $150,000 for the animal shelter;
• $3,000 for TV screens in the council chambers.

“Did we all get what we want? No. But good budgets are like that. Not everyone can get what they want, but it’s balanced, and the taxpayers appreciate that,” City Council President Mike Karbassi said.

The budget was approved in six parts. Nelson Esparza cast one no vote, his yearly objection to the GANN limit, setting the limit for appropriations.

Paving Project Financing Approved

The city council approved a technical step to allow it to “pave now, pay later.”

The slogan is part of Mayor Jerry Dyer’s $100 million plan to pave roads now, and pay for it with a 30-year bond. The concept: It’s less expensive to get the work started now. Of the money, 75% will go for paving; 25% will be flexible and can be used for infrastructure like sidewalks and medians.

“This is historic in our city, to be able to spend $100 million over the next two years on street paving and neighborhood infrastructure. It will go a long way in not only taking care of our deferred maintenance, but allowing those people in those neighborhoods to have a lot more pride,” Dyer said.

Five proposals suggested by the council during budget motions totaling $5 million are included.