Dear Editor:
A city budget might sound like a bunch of spreadsheets and numbers, but at the end of the day, it’s really about people. It’s about what gets fixed, what gets funded, and what kind of community we want to build together.
This year’s budget is a major turning point for Culver City.
For the first time in three years, the City was presented with a balanced budget. Simply put, this means we are no longer spending more money than we are bringing in. This is huge! We also lifted the City’s fiscal emergency and rebuilt our reserves to 27%, helping position Culver City’s budget for long-term stability and future success.
From the beginning of my time as Mayor, one of my biggest priorities has been making sure we are financially responsible while still investing in the things residents actually care about. My budget priorities include:
- Long-term financial sustainability
- Investments in people, neighborhoods, and infrastructure
- Affordability and support for families
- Safer streets
- Stronger local economy
- Transparency and public accountability
And honestly, when I talk to residents, I hear the same thing over and over again:
“Why hasn’t this sidewalk been fixed?”
“Why are the roads in this condition?”
“Why has this park been neglected?”
People want to see their tax dollars reflected in their neighborhoods.
That’s why I fought to:
- Triple sidewalk repairs
- Double the number of roads maintained
- Improve parks and recreational spaces
- Invest in long-overdue infrastructure repairs
The budget includes funding for improvements at Bills Botts Park, where one field has sat unusable for years while other areas have fallen into disrepair. Residents deserve better.
At the same time, I know one of the biggest challenges people are facing right now is affordability.
Even families earning good incomes are struggling with the cost of rent, groceries, childcare, gas, and everyday life. People feel squeezed from every direction.
That’s why this budget also focuses on affordability and support for working families.
I fought to increase funding for afterschool programming because I’ve heard directly from parents about how hard and expensive childcare can be. Families deserve support and options.
I also pushed for the City to explore a guaranteed income pilot program. Research from programs across the country has shown that guaranteed income can help reduce financial stress and give families more stability during difficult times.
I recently met with leaders from the Isabella Project in Ventura County, where guaranteed income funding helped childcare providers buy safer transportation for kids and improve their facilities. These are the kinds of creative solutions I want us exploring in Culver City.
Supporting small businesses was another major priority for me in this budget.
This year we funded the new Jumpstart Program that I led on, which will help entrepreneurs and small business owners through:
- Micro-grants
- Fee waivers
- Technical assistance
Starting a business can feel overwhelming and expensive, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. This program is about helping people get started and helping local businesses succeed.
I also want to explore new tools like small business loan programs and partnerships with Community Development Financial Institutions so more local entrepreneurs can access capital and grow here in Culver City.
Affordable housing also remains one of the City’s biggest priorities.
Last year, I led the effort to create the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and this year’s budget includes funding to begin putting that vision into action. I also pushed to make sure we keep our rental assistance funding.
I know affordable housing can be a divisive topic, but I reject the idea that we have to choose between affordable housing, strong schools, good services, or a balanced budget.
We can do all of those things if we plan responsibly and invest strategically.
And we also have to be honest about history. For decades, many families were intentionally excluded from opportunities to build wealth and stability in Culver City because of discriminatory housing policies. Expanding access to affordable housing today is about creating opportunity and stability for more people moving forward.
Finally, this budget also invests in the workers who keep the City running every day. That includes strengthening staffing in Cultural Affairs, Public Works, and code enforcement so we can actually deliver the improvements residents expect and deserve.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: Make Culver City more affordable, more functional, and more responsive to the people who live here while making sure the City remains financially stable for the future.
Sincerely,
Mayor Freddy Puza