My Budget Priorities - Community Investment for a Safer, Resilient Future
Next Tuesday, June 28th, the City Council will adopt the City Budget for the next two years (Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024). Under the City Charter, the Council must approve a balanced budget before July 1st, the start of the new fiscal year. Adopting the biennial budget is one of the most important decisions as it determines the city services, programs and projects which will be implemented each year, and is truly a reflection of the Council and community’s priorities. Below are highlights of my supplemental budget proposal, which build off the City Manager’s proposed budget and provide further investment in community services, advance our reimagining public safety goals, and improve our city’s infrastructure. You can explore the proposed budget in full by reviewing the documents on the June 28th Council agenda (items 44 and 45).
Green and Resilient Infrastructure
Much of the city’s infrastructure has reached the end of its useful lifespan, requiring replacements and upgrades. Vision 2050 provides a long-term plan to build, upgrade, and repair our infrastructure to be more sustainable and resilient in order to meet the challenges we face in the future, including climate change. While a lot of this work will require approval of a revenue generating measure that will be placed on the November ballot, we are moving forward with various projects we can fund now.
With gas prices at an all-time high and the need to end our reliance on cars powered by fossil fuels, we are investing in alternative forms of transportation. $1.15 million for vehicle charging stations for city vehicles to accelerate our transition to zero emissions. $1 million will be allocated over the next two years for low-carbon transit and mobility infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pedestrian safety upgrades.. Additional funding will be provided for bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects, as highlighted in the Bicycle Plan and Pedestrian Plan.
Over $34 million will be spent on various capital projects over the next two years. About half of this will be for street paving and maintenance, to meet our commitment of preventing further deterioration of road conditions. Other highlights include replacement of waterfront pilings at the marina, repairs at the Telegraph/Channing Garage, funding for various ADA projects, multiple traffic calming projects, and installation of solar panels/battery systems at fire stations.
This is an historic investment in paving to ensure long-term resiliency of our streets and improved safety for people driving and biking.
Reimagining Public Safety
Two years ago, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and rallies throughout the country for public safety reform, including in Berkeley, we embarked on a process to reimagine public safety. We need an adequately trained and appropriately staffed police department to serve our community, while also addressing historic racial inequities and managing increasing public safety expenditures, including overtime. On May 5, 2022, Council voted to move forward on a series of recommendations. This was based upon the significant work made by the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force - a diverse group of local residents and experts who were tasked with developing recommendations for a new and transformative model of positive, equitable and community centered safety for Berkeley.
The FY 23-24 City Budget includes over $10 million dollars in appropriations to make these approved recommendations a reality. Including:
$300,000 for the development of the Berkeley Department of Transportation (BerkDOT), consolidating our transportation planning, engineering and enforcement into one civilian department, including the potential for civilian traffic enforcement.
$200,000 will be spent on an analysis of our dispatch center to help improve our response to public safety calls including police, fire and EMS.
$700,000 will be allocated to mental health services, including support for a city-run mental health center at Berkeley High School. Funds will also be used for additional staffing, which is critical for increasing community engagement and expanding capabilities of addressing public safety goals.
$250,000 will go towards a design process for a Department of Community Safety, an umbrella agency that will be the future of addressing the city’s public safety and emergency response.
We will also be funding upstream investments in our youth, violence prevention and domestic violence services including an allocation of $210,000 in violence prevention and youth services, fulling funding Project Ceasefire and also funding non-criminal alternatives to citations and traffic sanctions and fines.
Supporting Equitable Recovery
Our community has had to overcome adversity over the last couple of years. When the COVID-19 shelter in place order took effect, the City took immediate action to provide financial support to residents, businesses, and arts organizations who were economically impacted. In addition to recovery from the pandemic, rising inflation and a weakening economy present new challenges to economic security for our small businesses and residents. Continued financial support for residents, businesses, and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness are essential, especially during volatile economic times.
To prevent homelessness, $1 million will be allocated towards the Housing Retention Program, which provides rental assistance to those who are unable to keep up with rent payments. An additional $1.8 million will be spent over the next two years on various anti-displacement programs including emergency rental assistance, legal representation and flexible housing funds for the homeless. These will be funded by Measure P, a tax on property sales or transfers worth at least $1.5 million approved by Berkeley voters in 2018. $300,000 will be used to review and develop a social housing policy, thanks to funding from Measure U1, a gross receipts tax on large apartment buildings to support affordable housing and homeless prevention programs. As businesses continue to recover, $1 million will be allocated for small business rental and legal support, including a grant program for small businesses (less than 50 employees).
Developing a People’s Budget
A diverse group of community organizations have mobilized to support aBerkeley People’s Budget. I appreciate the collaboration and engagement of the community in advocating for what they believe should be prioritized in the budget, and I have incorporated many of their proposals in my recommendations. Three of the top priorities are to deliver on the commitment to reimagine public safety, treat housing as a human right by funding anti-displacement and homeless services, and expand investments in equitable and emergency climate action. These priorities are being funded, as previously mentioned. Other priorities include beginning the process of providing Reparations for historic harm to our black and indigenous communities .
This budget cycle marks a return to the traditional two-year budget cycle. During the past two years, a one-year budget was approved due to the economic uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank the City Manager, the Finance Department, and the Office of Budget and Fiscal Management for their efforts to make sure that our budget is balanced despite revenues still rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. As we close this multi-month and intensive budget process, I also want to express appreciation to the members of the community who have been involved in the dozens of budget meetings. I value your input on this important process and am committed to receiving your public comment in order to make sure our budget reflects our needs and values.