News Summary
San Diego is confronting a $258 million budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, prompting cost-saving measures, including restroom closures at beaches and parks. City officials plan to cut 13 full-time maintenance positions and close five restrooms during the off-season. While alternatives will remain available, concerns about accessibility and community impacts have been raised. Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget proposal aims to generate new revenue while cutting funding to libraries and recreation centers, with significant layoffs also being considered in parks and recreation departments.
San Diego is navigating a significant budget challenge as it anticipates a shortfall of $258 million for the upcoming fiscal year set to begin on October 1. In response to this financial strain, the city is planning to implement cost-saving measures that include closing bathrooms at several popular beach and park locations during the off-season, specifically from November to March. This initiative aims to conserve a projected $1,681,673.
City officials have confirmed that the plan will involve the reduction of 13 full-time positions connected with the maintenance of these facilities, with job cuts affecting 5 positions at Balboa Park and 8 at various waterfront areas. Importantly, the closures will not impact community park restrooms, allowing those facilities to remain available for local residents.
Specifically, among San Diego’s 15 restrooms located at shoreline parks and beaches, five are slated for closure during the off-season. Mission Bay Park, which has a total of 28 restrooms, will see 13 of those closed. Additionally, 7 out of 14 portable restrooms at Fiesta Island will be shut down, along with seven bathrooms in Balboa Park itself.
While some nearby alternatives will still be available for beachgoers, there are rising concerns regarding accessibility for individuals who may have difficulty traveling to other restroom facilities. Detractors of the plan also express apprehension that keeping some restrooms open could result in overcrowding and could attract unhoused individuals, which presents a challenge to local communities.
Mayor Todd Gloria’s draft budget proposal includes measures to generate $157 million in new revenue from increased fees, while simultaneously cutting funding for libraries and recreation centers. The proposed budget amounts to $6.04 billion, reflecting a $223.1 million increase over the current fiscal year 2025. The bathroom budget cuts only represent a fraction—approximately 0.028%—of the overall budget.
The overall budget proposal includes potential cuts to 393 city positions, with 160 of those currently filled. Layoffs and employee transfers across various departments are also under consideration. Particularly, the Parks and Recreation department is facing a significant reduction, with plans to cut approximately 170 full-time employees, despite a proposal to add 20 positions in other areas of the city.
The reasoning behind these budget cuts can be traced back to a prior public health crisis—a Hepatitis A outbreak in 2017 which was associated with restroom shortages, resulting in 592 cases and 20 deaths. In response to the outbreak, the city had installed additional bathrooms in downtown San Diego, an area that continues to serve a high number of homeless individuals.
City council hearings will be held from May 5 to May 9 to discuss these proposed budget cuts, with a revised budget proposal expected to be released on May 14. The city council must approve the final budget by June 10.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
San Diego Unified School District Announces New Community Schools
California High-Speed Rail Project Faces Major Delays
Elon Musk Withdraws from Government Efficiency in Light of Tesla Profits
California Governor Sues Over Federal Tariffs
Del Mar Leaders Unite Against VA Workforce Cuts
California Addresses Medicaid Budget Crisis with New Bill
California Allocates $2.8 Billion to Protect Medi-Cal
California’s $2.8 Billion Bailout for Medi-Cal Program
UC San Diego Faces $500 Million Budget Cuts Amid Protests
San Diego Updates Trash Fees – What You Need to Know
Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- Wikipedia: San Diego
- CBS 8
- Google Search: San Diego budget cuts
- Axios
- Encyclopedia Britannica: San Diego
- Fox 5 San Diego
- Google News: San Diego parks budget cuts
- 10 News
