When is a Budget Cut Not a Budget Cut?

Publication Date: March 31, 2025

Author(s)

Marisa Waxman, PICA

Summary

A proposed budget reduction isn’t always a true cut—sometimes it reflects the end of one-time costs, a shift in responsibility to another department, or reduced demand for services. For instance, FY26 budgets for Parks & Recreation and Homeless Services are lower than FY25, but not all changes imply service reductions. To discern real impacts, stakeholders are encouraged to consult departmental performance measures and Schedule C budget forms to see if reductions affect service delivery.