The deficit, in plain language
You'll hear that Menlo Park has a budget deficit. Here's what that actually means — and what the City has to do about it.
Menlo Park's proposed FY 2026-27 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) budget has a $1,800,000 gap. The City plans to spend $89,800,000 and expects to collect $88,000,000.
What does that gap mean?
The City legally has to balance its budget. So a deficit like this has to be closed by doing one of three things:
- 1Spend less than planned — cut services or delay things.
- 2Find revenue that isn't currently in the plan.
- 3Use money from the City's savings — its reserves.
Most cities use some combination. Menlo Park staff have proposed about $703,055in specific cuts that the City Council will consider at the June 9 budget public hearing. That still leaves about $1,152,496 of the gap unaddressed.
Want the full detail? The deficit page walks through exactly what's being cut, what isn't, and the full menu of options the City has — laid out neutrally, so you can form your own view. Or keep going to the last step below.