FY 2026-27 City Budget Adoption
Summary
The city adopted its budget for the year starting July 1. The lone controversy was $40,000 for a traffic study near the Costco/El Paseo development — kept in the budget because it could unlock larger regional grants.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 6
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 19, 2026.
Impact analysis
Adopts roughly $35.2 million in General Fund spending for the year beginning July 1, 2026.
All residents who rely on city services, plus businesses and applicants served by the improvements funded in the budget.
Taxpayers fund the $40,000 study that one council member argued would produce no direct action.
Mentions & discussions (7)
Joint Session - Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office - Aug 19, 2026
Housekeeping budget fix: $2.5 million in unfunded park projects removed, plus two small revenue adjustments.
City Council - Jun 17, 2026
The city adopted its budget for the year starting July 1. The lone controversy was $40,000 for a traffic study near the Costco/El Paseo development — kept in the budget because it could unlock larger regional grants.
Study Session - Climate Resiliance Districts - Jun 17, 2026
The city adopted its annual budget after a failed attempt to trim $40,000 from a traffic study. The budget funds all city services, capital projects, and reserves for the year starting July 1.
Joint Session - San Jose Animal Control - May 20, 2026
The proposed budget got its first hearing; two amendments — acknowledging a $493K clean-energy grant and fully funding a new CIP project, and in one version cutting a $40K traffic study — failed 2-2. Final adoption comes June 17.
City Council - May 6, 2026
The city faces a structural deficit, with a $2.6 million jump in the sheriff's contract the biggest driver. Options include becoming a charter city (12–24 months, $100K–$300K), a parcel tax, or a real property transfer tax worth about $3 million a year — but a possible 2026 state ballot measure could kill the transfer tax route. Council says it's premature; more homework due before June 3.
Increased policing costs may tip Saratoga into a budget deficit
Increased policing costs may tip Saratoga into a budget deficit East Bay Times
City Council - Jan 27, 2026
Reserves total about $20 million — eight months of expenses — including ~$7 million unassigned. Council began weighing whether to tap that money for one-time budget gaps.
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