Carlsbad, CA
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The City of Carlsbad operates on a July to June fiscal year. The city budget has three main sections, the Operating Budget, which covers the day to day work of the city, like providing police and fire services, libraries, parks and recreation, and other core services; the plan for investing in digital infrastructure; and the Capital Improvement Program, which covers major construction projects.
Setting priorities
The annual budget includes work plans and resources to accomplish the goals in the City Council's 5-Year Strategic Plan. The plan includes five main goals that reflect the values most important to the Carlsbad Community. The city also gathers input throughout the year at meetings, workshops, online surveys and more. Share your feedback anytime via email.
Long term investing
The city is investing surplus funds from last fiscal year in ways to protect its long-term financial health
09/24/2025
Balanced budget adopted boosts reserves
The Carlsbad City Council approved next fiscal year’s budget Tuesday.
06/17/2025 8:37 PM
Carlsbad projects balanced budget, boosts reserves
The City of Carlsbad’s proposed budget for next fiscal year invests in the community’s highest priorities, sets aside money for future infrastructure needs and grows the city’s cash reserves – all while projecting a balanced budget through fiscal year 2031.
05/16/2025 8:59 AM
Community budget workshop
Community members who want to learn about the city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 can come to a special community budget workshop on Thursday, May 22. City staff will be on hand to answer questions and take community feedback.
05/07/2025 11:33 AM
Utilities rate increases
On Tuesday, rate increases were approved for water, sewer and recycled water based on recent studies to determine the actual cost of providing these services. Keep reading for additional information on what’s changing, why increases are needed and what we’re doing to reduce operating costs.
04/22/2025 12:25 PM
Strategic Plan progress
The City of Carlsbad is now halfway through carrying out its first 5-Year Strategic Plan.
02/27/2025 9:00 AM
City wins budget award
The City of Carlsbad’s annual budget has been recognized by the top authority in government accounting for the 18th year in a row.
11/26/2024
Annual financial report honored
City recognized for excellence in financial reporting
11/15/2024
Investing in financial health
The city budget gets a lot of attention when it’s adopted in the spring, but the City Council makes important financial decisions all year long, including this week when they approved something called “carry forwards.”
10/10/2024 9:49 AM
Balanced budget adopted
The Carlsbad City Council approved a balanced budget Tuesday and will begin the new fiscal year July 1 with healthy revenues, increased cash reserves and among the lowest pension debts in the region. The fiscal year 2024-25 city budget also sets aside money for future infrastructure investments.
06/19/2024 9:12 AM
Carlsbad projects balanced budget
Thanks to healthy revenues, reduced spending, and new budget policies and practices over the past several years, the City of Carlsbad is projecting a balanced budget through fiscal year 2030, increased cash reserves and among the lowest pension debts in the region. The city released its preliminary
05/16/2024
Community budget workshop
Carlsbad residents interested in finding out about the city’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 can come to a special community budget workshop where city staff will be on hand to answer questions and take community feedback.
05/09/2024 11:33 AM
Economic, financial report presented
Halfway through the fiscal year, city revenues are up 8% over this time last year, and the latest numbers show Carlsbad’s gross regional project remains the second highest in the region. Even so, the local economy continues to send mixed messages as experts try to predict what the post-pandemic “new
02/28/2024
City receives national award for budget presentation
The City of Carlsbad has once again been honored with a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, recognizing the city’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of governmental budgeting.
01/24/2024
Annual financial report
The city budget details where the money comes from to fund city services and the spending plan for that money in the year ahead.
12/15/2023