Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s budget process. Whether you shared feedback online, attended a workshop, or spoke at a City Council meeting, your input helped shape the City’s budget adoption.

We appreciate the time and perspectives from our community. Your involvement helps ensure the budget reflects the needs and values of Escondido.

Below is a quick summary of the budget process and the key priorities that guided the City Council’s adopted budget.

Budget Process:

The City of Escondido adopts its budget each June for the following fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. The budget, while a financial document, is also an important policy document, outlining the City Council's priorities for the upcoming year and showing where the City's funds will be allocated.

The Operating Budget projects short-term revenue and expenditures related to providing day-to-day services. A separate Capital Improvement Project Budget projects long-term revenue and expenditures for major projects such as roads, park improvements, and pipelines.

The Preliminary Operating Budget was presented at the City Council meeting on May 20, 2026.

Staff held two budget workshops in April to provide an opportunity for you to share your local community priorities and City service needs for the upcoming fiscal year. If you were unable to attend, you can watch a pre-recorded presentation on the City's YouTube Channel 2026 Budget Workshop - City of Escondido

The Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget was adopted by the City Council on June 17, 2026.

Highlights of the FY 2026/27 Budget Include:

  • Alignment with City Council priorities, including public safety, financial stewardship, economic development, and restoring organizational capacity
  • Continued investment of Measure I funding to support essential City services and community priorities
  • New Citywide initiatives focused on:
    • Wildfire mitigation planning, including tools to identify high-risk areas and guide preventative efforts
    • Traffic safety enhancements, including additional police resources and expanded public safety tools

City Council Priorities:

This budget aligns with the following strategic priorities validated by the City Council in September 2025, which serve as the foundation for budget planning:

  • Be Business Friendly
  • Build Trust and Accountability
  • Drive Community and Land Development
  • Financial Stewardship
  • Prioritize Public Safety
  • Restore Organizational Capacity