The Fullerton City Council is facing a packed agenda centered on a single urgent problem: a $3.8 million structural deficit that city staff says cannot be solved by spending cuts alone. The council will decide whether to place a half-cent local sales tax before voters in November and which of three budget scenarios to adopt for the coming fiscal year.
The meeting, moved to a 5:30 p.m. start at the Council Chamber at 303 West Commonwealth Avenue, follows a closed session at 5:00 p.m. covering existing litigation, anticipated litigation, and real-property negotiations at two city-owned sites. Residents who cannot attend in person can watch on Spectrum Channel 3, AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, or join remotely by Zoom using Meeting ID 160 256 5242.
The meeting was basically about how they screwed up the budget, wasted money, and now want to tax Americans TWICE on roads.
A Second Tax for Streets and Infrastructure
Under Item 18, staff will present two versions of a proposed ballot measure for the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. Both would add a half-cent transactions and use tax administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, which staff estimates would raise roughly $15 million a year for roads and public infrastructure.
The versions differ on one point. Option A includes a 15-year sunset, after which the tax would expire automatically. Option B would make the tax permanent with no built-in end date. Because the revenue would be dedicated to infrastructure rather than the general fund, the measure is classified as a special tax, requiring approval from two-thirds of voters and a four-fifths council vote just to place it on the ballot. You can review the Fullerton budget and tax details for the full agenda materials.
Three Scenarios, No Painless Option
Item 19 asks the council to choose among three General Fund scenarios for Fiscal Year 2026-27, with a final budget vote set for August 18. City expenditures for the coming year total roughly $290 million, and the deficit persists even after roughly $10 million in prior cuts that already eliminated nine full-time positions.
Scenario A would draw on reserves to balance the budget for one year while cutting services, including eliminating general-fund support for community events like First Night Fullerton and reducing graffiti removal from two trucks to one. Scenario B would rely on deeper cuts and one-time funds to avoid touching reserves this year, though staff warns reserves would face pressure later. Scenario C imposes the steepest reductions to hold the line over three years without reserves. A projection by auditing firm Grant Thornton found that even the most aggressive scenario would not balance the budget within four years without additional revenue.
Police Chief Radus told the council that Fullerton currently fields about 0.8 sworn officers per 1,000 residents, well below the 1.3-to-1.5 range commonly cited as best practice, underscoring the stakes of further public-safety reductions.
Housing Bonds, Infrastructure Contracts, and What Comes Next
The council will also consider authorizing up to $180 million in tax-exempt bonds through the California Statewide Communities Development Authority to acquire and rehabilitate two 1970s apartment complexes near Cal State Fullerton, totaling 395 units, and convert them to affordable housing. The city takes on no financial liability; its role is to hold a required public hearing and sign off on the resolution.
Several construction contracts sit on the consent calendar, including a $1.36 million agreement for the Independence Park gym renovation, a $1.14 million contract for Harbor Boulevard rehabilitation, and a $636,480 contract for emergency generators at two pump stations. The council will also consider approving the city’s Annual Action Plan to secure more than $2 million in federal HUD funding for housing rehabilitation, homeless services, and senior programs.
Looking ahead, two community meetings on waste and recycling service are scheduled for July 23 and July 28, both at 6:00 p.m. The council’s first August meeting, originally set for August 4, has been canceled, with the budget hearing continuing on August 18.
