San Bruno’s City Manager has unveiled a recommended FY2026‑27 spending plan that technically keeps the city’s finances in balance, yet leaves the General Fund walking a financial tightrope. The proposal clocks in at roughly $291 million across all funds, with the General Fund, which pays for police, fire and other core services, at about $68.8 million. City officials say the exposure is serious enough that hiring pauses, program trims or new revenue measures could be on the table, and the City Council is set to weigh final approval at its regular meeting on June 23.
According to the City of San Bruno Finance page, the recommended budget totals about $291 million across all funds and pegs the General Fund at roughly $68.8 million. City projections show combined General Fund reserves of about $57.5 million as of June 30, 2025, and flag several revenue streams as “at risk,” including VLF backfill, TRSA and cardroom receipts. If those fall through, staff say the city could lose roughly $20.4 million a year in ongoing revenue and face up to $83 million in one‑time impacts in a worst‑case scenario. The forecast lays out best, middle and worst cases to help frame what choices might land on the council’s plate.
What officials are warning and saying publicly
The city distilled the highlights into a short “Budget in Brief” note on its official X account, in a City of San Bruno X post. That snapshot points out that some departments have already paused or frozen job openings, while staff chase economic‑development strategies and potential new revenue. It also nods to possible ballot measures or other revenue moves if the risks materialize, underscoring how seriously staff are taking the long‑term outlook. For residents who do not want to wade through hundreds of pages, the post serves as a quick primer on the tradeoffs now in play.
📃San Bruno Budget in Brief for FY2027
— City of San Bruno (@CityofSanBruno) June 11, 2026
🔗On June 9, the City Manager presented his recommended budget to the City Council. Check it out at https://t.co/yFehhbLrTN
During City Council's regular meeting for June 23, they will decide whether or not to approve this budget. Although… pic.twitter.com/Smn5hownnm
How the city says it would respond and next steps
City staff point to steps already taken, including department consolidation, the sale of CityNet and temporary savings such as a shortened workweek, and to potential voter‑approved tools to close the gap, such as a modeled $7 million parcel tax or smaller revenue measures, according to the FY2026‑27 Budget Preview & Forecast. The city is pairing those near‑term moves with a longer‑range economic‑development push branded Elevate San Bruno, which staff describe for the council in a May 19 packet. The council is scheduled to consider the recommended budget at its June 23 regular meeting, with meeting logistics and ways to watch or comment listed on the City calendar.
For now the proposal buys time with a mix of one‑time patches and operational savings while the city hunts for more durable revenue growth. The real test will come on June 23 and in the follow‑up financial reports that show how this blueprint turns into day‑to‑day decisions.
