Fireworks as Fresno city council member questions mayor's budget proposal

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It's fund season. Thursday, Mayor Jerry Dyer stood successful beforehand of the Fresno City Council facing contentious questioning and immoderate compliments.

An apology...

"My apologies for raising your humor pressure," said Miguel Arias, Fresno City Council.

"My apologies for responding and allowing my humor unit to beryllium increased," said Mayor Jerry Dyer.

There were immoderate heated moments successful the Fresno City Council chambers arsenic Mayor Jerry Dyer presented his 2025-2026 fund connected Thursday.

"This is the latest successful my tenure we've received the fund binder ever," said Arias.

"It's the earliest," said Georgeanne White, City Manager.

"This is the earliest you've gotten it," said Dyer.

"Mayor, you had your property league yesterday. We usually get the fund binder erstwhile you person your property conference," said Arias.

After the backmost and forth, the councilmembers highlighted their apical priorities successful the fund and concerns with the mayor's proposal.

"I truly admit the continued wide money concern successful the 42 SAFER Grant firefighter positions," said Mike Karbassi, Fresno City Council. "This is captious for our city, not lone for their information but the information of the public."

"One of the erstwhile meetings, immoderate of the bargaining you suggested was we spell to the taxpayers and we propulsion a income taxation summation to beryllium capable to spend higher wages," said Arias. "I don't spot the rationale successful this fund connection for specified a move, and I would publically and wholeheartedly reason it."

The fund is much than $2.36 billion. To get there, the metropolis had to adjacent a much than $20 cardinal deficit, the politician said, mostly owed to inflation.

Aside from the metropolis assembly and fire, each section is asked to support a much than six percent attrition complaint oregon vacancy passim the year.

The Mayor wanted to beryllium clear, this is not a city-wide hiring freeze.

"There is immoderate intentional holding of vacancies, but it's precise selective based connected need," said Dyer.

The politician besides highlighted the difficulties faced portion perchance losing authorities and national funding.

Particularly aft the Governor announced his fund connection with nary backing for the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program this year.

"So if those funds are nary longer here. We person to fig retired a mode to marque up the difference, either with wide money oregon different gross sources," said Dyer. "At the aforesaid clip we're gonna besides combat done the legislature to get those things restored successful the budget."

The City Council members volition present instrumentality those binders the politician provided them and enactment their mode done each department, with fund negotiations present to follow.

The politician and metropolis assembly indispensable scope a last approved fund by the extremity of June.

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