Pasadena City Council Continues Budget Workshops Ahead of FY 2027 Spending Decisions

Discussions to cover spending priorities, budget adjustment protocols, and public hearing timeline.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:05pm

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The Pasadena City Council will hold another budget workshop session on Monday night, continuing discussions on spending priorities, criteria for ranking competing needs, and protocols for adjusting the budget mid-year. This comes ahead of a compressed timeline that will lead to formal public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Budget and Operating Budget next month.

Why it matters

The budget workshops allow the Council to provide input and direction to staff before the final budget documents are presented, shaping the priorities and spending decisions that will impact the city for the coming fiscal year. With public hearings scheduled in the next few weeks, these workshops are a critical step in the city's annual budget process.

The details

The workshop session, presented by the Office of the City Manager, is listed as informational, meaning no formal vote is required. However, the Council retains the authority to take action on budget-related matters as it sees fit following discussion. No staff report has been published in advance of the session.

  • The budget workshop is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The first formal public hearing on the City Manager's Recommended Fiscal Year 2027–2031 Capital Improvement Budget is set for April 13, 2026.
  • The operating budget public hearing is scheduled for May 4, 2026.
  • A special joint meeting of the Finance Committee and/or full City Council is calendared for April 20, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The players

Pasadena City Council

The governing body of the City of Pasadena, California, responsible for setting policies, approving the budget, and overseeing city operations.

Office of the City Manager

The administrative arm of the Pasadena city government, responsible for presenting budget information and recommendations to the City Council.

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What’s next

The Council will hold formal public hearings on the Fiscal Year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Budget on April 13, 2026 and the Operating Budget on May 4, 2026, where they will receive public input and take final action on the city's spending plan.

The takeaway

The budget workshops are a critical step in Pasadena's annual budget process, allowing the City Council to provide input and direction to staff before the final budget documents are presented. With a compressed timeline leading up to public hearings, these workshops will shape the priorities and spending decisions that will impact the city for the coming fiscal year.