San Diego Mayor's Budget Proposes $3.5M Cut to Humane Society Amid $258M Deficit

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget aims to address a significant deficit through a combination of service cuts and revenue increases, sparking concern among local organizations. Notably, the San Diego Humane Society faces a 20% reduction in its contract, with leaders warning that diminished funding could halt animal cruelty investigations, park patrols, and rabies control, thereby threatening public safety. The mayor characterizes these changes as necessary fiscal responsibility, but the Humane Society and community leaders argue they could jeopardize both human and animal wellbeing. Additionally, the budget proposes ending city support for the Alpha Project Rosecrans Shelter, which currently provides housing and mental health services to 150 homeless individuals. This move has drawn criticism from nonprofit leaders and county officials, who highlight the shelter's unique public-private partnership and the critical gap its closure would create for vulnerable populations. Public hearings and further city council discussions are scheduled as stakeholders seek revisions to the proposed cuts.