Pasadena’s Public Health Department is staring at a budget cliff that could slice into disease-response work and homeless outreach, with officials warning that key programs may take the hit if expiring grants are not replaced. City leaders are now debating whether to plug the holes with one-time general-fund dollars as the department weighs staff cuts and merging divisions.
Public Health Director Manuel Carmona told the City Council’s Public Safety Committee that nine soon-to-expire grants would pull about $2.9 million out of the city’s health fund. That drop is expected to mean a 13.8% revenue slide to roughly $15.7 million and a planned reduction of about 21.54 full-time positions. Carmona said the department has already shrunk its workforce by about 43% since a FY 2024 peak and has identified a roughly $315,000 firefighter funding gap for the Pasadena Outreach Response Team, or PORT. “The grant opportunities are very slim,” he told committee members, warning that “health and safety programs are really under threat,” as reported by Pasadena Now.
Budget Papers Show Grants Driving The Gap
The city’s FY 2027 Recommended Operating Budget similarly flags a roughly $2.5 million reduction to the Public Health Department tied to expiring grants that currently support about 21 full-time equivalents. The same budget document notes that bringing the Health Officer role up to full-time and maintaining core services would cost about $511,000. Staff also indicate they may recommend using remaining one-time General Fund dollars as a backup funding source for PORT if new grant money does not come through, according to the FY 2027 Recommended Operating Budget.
What PORT Does And Why It Matters
The Pasadena Outreach Response Team pairs public-health clinicians with firefighters and Union Station Homeless Services staff to deliver field-based outreach, help people connect to housing and medical referrals, and link them with behavioral-health supports. Those services have been especially crucial as the department recently responded to pertussis outbreaks at two local schools. More detail on PORT’s work is available from the Pasadena Public Health Department.
Council Response And Short-Term Options
Councilmembers at the hearing did not hide their concern and directed staff to bring back options for more stable funding, including whether general-fund dollars should be used to protect core health and outreach programs. Councilmember Tyron Hampton told Pasadena Now, “Our community’s health is number one.”
Finance Director Karen Schneider said the city will continue to chase available grants, but emphasized that the council will ultimately decide whether to deploy remaining one-time funds. The recommended budget already includes $750,000 in commitments and about $2.5 million in total recommended General Fund support, according to the FY 2027 Recommended Operating Budget.
What Comes Next
Budget workshops and committee hearings will continue through May, with the City Council scheduled to consider adoption of the FY 2027 Recommended Operating Budget at its June 15, 2026 meeting, according to the city’s budget report. In the meantime, departments are expected to bring decision points to the council on whether to tap reserves, restructure staffing, or pursue alternate funding sources before the final vote, as summarized in the FY 2027 Recommended Operating Budget.
