Planning for SLO’s Future Budget
This is a cross-published piece with Mustang News, more information can be found here.
San Luis Obispo residents were able to give input on the city’s next set of major goals last week as part of financial planning. San Luis Obispo City Council and the Revenue Enhancement Oversight Commission (REOC) held a joint community forum to inform the next budget.
The city is working to create the 2025-2027 financial plan, which will be adopted in June. In February, the council will review an updated five-year fiscal projection and hold a goal setting workshop using input from the community forum.
“As we talk about these next two years, I’m really happy that we have a very strong budget and we have been very diligent with our money,” Mayor Erica Stewart said. “At the same time, over the next four years we are forecasting a bit of a deficit. We want to be dreamy today, but also realistic.”
The community will have another opportunity to share their thoughts on the direction of the city for the next two years at the goal setting workshop on Feb. 8.
After residents had time to meet with city employees, community members could address the council and the REOC directly with their experiences and input on the city’s future. Cal Poly students, including city and regional planning senior Miriam Sullivan, participated in the public comment forum.
Sullivan is an intern for Smart Share Housing Solutions, a local non-profit that aims to find affordable housing solutions in San Luis Obispo. Sullivan attended the event advocating to fund a proposed below-market community.
“This project will provide alternative housing options for our community,” Sullivan said in her public comment. “We look forward to working with you to make it happen soon.” The Waterman Village will create 20 units of sustainable and affordable housing, according to Sullivan.
Students also advocated for tenants rights, active transportation projects and open space developments.
Whitney McDonald, the city manager, shared that there are many projects being planned for the next few years, including a new fire station and widening the Prado bridge. She pushed for residents to dream big and share any ideas they have for the city.
“We can do anything, but we can’t do everything and especially not all at once,” McDonald said. “Our goal will be to allocate our resources to the highest priorities, while also setting realistic priorities too.”
The community forum is one of the first steps in the city’s budget planning process, following a review of the city’s current goals and initial input from a community-wide survey.
