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By Jack Balch
On June 17, the Pleasanton City Council adopted one of the more challenging budgets our city has faced in recent memory. These decisions weren’t easy, but they were made with your input, our values, and our future in mind.
To every resident who showed up, wrote in, tuned in, or spoke up: thank you.
Cities across the Bay Area and the nation are grappling with rising costs and slowing revenues. Some of us warned this day would come as we grew concerned that difficult choices were being deferred or overshadowed by competing priorities. That’s why it’s more important than ever to realign our focus and invest in what matters most.
This starts with having complete and accurate information so we can make the best possible decisions, especially the hard decisions that are expected of us.
Here in Pleasanton, our community met the moment with transparency, responsibility and civility. While we all had to compromise, through reductions, realignments and reprioritizations, we also made bold, proactive decisions to protect and strengthen our city for the future.
Among the most significant: We are more than doubling our investment in Pleasanton’s long-term infrastructure and facilities. Our capital investment will grow from the $2 million to $3.4 million range contributed by past operating budgets to approximately $6.2 million next year and $8.8 million the year after. That’s a powerful step forward — representing real, tangible improvements to the roads we drive on, the parks we enjoy, and the city facilities that serve residents of all ages.
We are also making prudent use of the FAS 115 Pension Trust, reserves set aside during stronger financial years, using a portion of its annual interest earnings to help offset pension costs. This eases near-term impacts while preserving the fund’s long-term integrity by keeping the principal untouched and allowing unused interest to continue compounding.
This budget helps safeguard the high quality of life that makes Pleasanton a special place to call home. It keeps our parks maintained, our public bathrooms open, and trash collected. It funds crossing guards, School Resource Officers, and our Alternative Mental Health Response. While the library will see some changes, the budget minimizes user impacts. We also found significant internal savings before looking elsewhere.
No one welcomes budget reductions, but our community engaged. We didn’t always agree, but we listened. While no process is perfect, and lessons were learned, I appreciate how our community stepped up, did the hard work, and met the challenge head-on, together. I also thank my fellow councilmembers and school leaders for their dedication to Pleasanton.
Please know that your voice matters. Whether on local, state or national issues, please vote. Participate and hold your leaders accountable, including me. Make sure you’re registered at vote.gov, and stay engaged in our future.
Next, let’s grow our local economy! This budget lays the groundwork for a more agile and responsive Pleasanton.
It funds two key initiatives: first, an internal Municipal Review to identify ways to streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies, and move past “analysis paralysis”; and second, it reorganizes City departments by combining Community Development and Economic Development into one, aligning zoning, land use, and business support. With smarter processes, we can attract and retain businesses, strengthen our tax base, and deliver the services, amenities, and entertainment our residents expect and deserve.
These are meaningful steps, not just to fix what’s urgent, but to prepare Pleasanton for what’s next. Thank you, Pleasanton, for your partnership and dedication to our vibrant future.
If you have ideas, questions, or concerns, please reach out to me at jbalch@cityofpleasantonca.gov.
Editor’s note: Jack Balch is in his first year as mayor of Pleasanton. He served in a regular seat on the Pleasanton City Council from 2020 to 2024, and previously sat on the Pleasanton Planning Commission.
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