Finance and Management Services
www.santa-ana.org/finance
Item # 7
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
December 2, 2025
TOPIC: Budget Calendar and Community Engagement Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-27
AGENDA TITLE
Budget Calendar and Community Engagement Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-27
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve the Budget Calendar and Community Engagement Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY26-27).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The FY26-27 Budget Calendar and Community Engagement Plan outline the City's strategy for promoting a successful, inclusive, and transparent budget process. The goals of community engagement in the annual budget development process are to:
1. Ensure the process is clear and open to the public
2. Gather feedback to align the budget with community needs and priorities
3. Foster trust among the community, City Council, and City staff City staff will employ multiple engagement techniques, including attending citywide events, hosting Community Budget Meetings in each City Council ward, facilitating Listening Tour visits, and conducting a budget priorities survey. During the spring months, City leadership holds internal budget meetings with each City department, providing departments the opportunity to propose workforce changes and funding requests.
Early Direction, tentatively scheduled for March 17, 2026, serves two purposes: first, to provide information about the current fiscal year that may impact the FY26-27 budget and future years; and second, to request direction from the City Council regarding budget priorities. City Council is scheduled to consider the proposed budget in May and hold a public hearing in June.
The City transitioned to a year-round survey process in the current fiscal year, now accessible via the Budget Office website at https://www.santa-ana.org/budget. The survey will remain open until the City Council formally adopts the budget in June.
Following budget adoption in 2026, City staff will review and revise the Budget Priorities
Budget Calendar and Community Engagement Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-27 December 2, 2025
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Survey questions based on key themes and topics identified through engagement activities and Council discussions. Once revised, the FY27-28 survey will be promptly posted to support year-round engagement.
The FY26-27 Budget Calendar begins in December 2025 and concludes with the adoption of the Citywide Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in June 2026, with an effective start date of July 1, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Calendar
2. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Engagement Plan
Submitted By: Alexander Trinidad, Executive Director – Finance and Management Services Agency
Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager