FY 2026-27 Proposed Midcycle Budget

Special Council Meeting June 12, 2026 CITY OF OAKLAND CITY HALL • 1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA • 94612 MEMORANDUM DATE: June 8, 2026 TO: City Council and Members of the Public FROM: Councilmember Carroll Fife, District 3 SUBJECT: FY 2026-2027 Midcycle Budget Amendments Dear Council Colleagues and Community, The budget process is always a difficult undertaking, but it is especially hard when there are financial constraints that hinder our ability to fully address the myriad needs in our city. Oakland continues to be in challenging financial times and the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Midcycle Budget reflects this reality. With the understanding that the resources we have are significantly less than the level of need in our communities, achieving a balanced budget is a laudable feat. I want to acknowledge Mayor Barbara Lee for giving the City Council a great starting point. However, as councilmembers, we have the responsibility of make amendments that allow us to be responsive to the communities we serve. Accordingly, I am proposing three amendments to the budget that touch on oversight and accountability, food production and resiliency, and affordable housing. Proposed Amendments 1) Add back 1 FTE Complaint Investigator II in Community Police Review Agency (CPRA). General Purpose Fund 1010. o Using salary savings from vacancies within the City Administrator’s Office, we can help maintain CPRA’s investigative capacity. Per the equity statement in the Mayor’s proposed budget, “adequate investigator staffing is essential to uphold CPRA’s mandate, maintain public trust, and ensure that all communities, particularly those most impacted by police interactions, receive fair, timely, and thorough investigations.” o While this is not full restoration, adding back 1 FTE position will limit the negative impact of the proposed freezes on a key oversight body. 2) Add 1 FTE Limited Duration Employee within Public Works to build a food resiliency program focused on community gardens for produce production. Measure Q Fund 2244. o The City currently has a community gardens program with minimal staffing to advance the stated goals of the program. This position would address this service gap while helping to create a focused pilot program that will help foster cultivation of fresh produce at the neighborhood level to eventually establish a free food program. The goal is to advance sustainability and food security.