San Diegans are making their voices heard through the digital Resident Budget Survey, which the City launched in February to gather input that City leaders have been using  to make tough budget decisions ahead of fiscal year (FY) 2027. Residents are encouraged to take the brief survey before it closes on Friday, May 8. 

Preliminary survey results show San Diego residents want the FY2027 budget, which will be implemented starting July 1, to prioritize street repair and repaving, as well as police and fire-rescue services. San Diegans also expressed concern about current sidewalk and street conditions, homelessness and housing costs.  

Now, as the City of San Diego gets closer to the May 13 revision to the FY27 draft budget, there is still time to provide feedback that will help determine which programs and services are ultimately prioritized and which are reduced.  

Residents who live within San Diego city limits are invited to take the five-minute survey at sandiego.gov/BudgetSurvey. Residents are also welcome to access public computers at any  San Diego Public Library location. Signs are posted in City libraries and recreation centers with a QR code linking to the online survey.  

Facing a projected deficit of approximately $120 million for  FY2027, the City has already drafted a budget that takes resident priorities into account, with an emphasis on public safety and road improvements, while also closing  the  deficit that  is  driven by slowing revenue growth, rising labor and operational costs, and ongoing service demands for a growing city. Balancing the City’s budget  each year is required by law.   

In addition to identifying top priorities, the survey asks residents to weigh tradeoffs, what matters most and whether the City should generate additional revenue to protect services. 

The Resident Budget Survey, in English and Spanish, will be available until May 8, 2026 at 5 p.m. More than 12,000 residents have taken the survey so far. There are many ways San Diegans  can get involved in the budget development process. Residents are encouraged to attend City Council budget meetings the week of May 4 and provide public comment, either by attending in person at the City Administration Building in Downtown San Diego or via Zoom.  

To learn more about San Diego’s budget development process, check out the  FY27 timeline on Inside San Diego.