Whittier Council Approves FY 2026–27 Budget After Questions on Police Equipment, Reserves and Housing Funds

The Whittier City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget Tuesday night after a public hearing that included questions about police equipment, drone data, reserve funds, pension obligations, constituent services, and the role of the Whittier Housing Authority.

The budget item was presented as a three-part approval covering the City of Whittier budget, the Whittier Housing Authority budget, and the Whittier Utility Authority budget.

Interim Finance Director Tram Pham presented the city’s revised FY 2026–27 budget, saying the revised General Fund budget kept revenues consistent with the proposal presented during the May 5 budget study session, while increasing General Fund expenditures by $260,000. That increase will be funded from the General Fund fund balance.

According to the city’s presentation, the General Fund is projected to receive about $114.5 million in revenue while spending about $118.4 million. Citywide revenues were listed at $204.4 million, while citywide expenditures were projected at $216 million.

Public safety remains the largest General Fund expense. The city’s budget presentation showed public safety accounting for 53 percent of General Fund uses, including $44.8 million for city police services and $17.6 million for Santa Fe Springs police services. Police alone accounted for 38 percent of General Fund uses.

The budget also showed a projected General Fund balance and reserve total of $101 million, available estimated at July 1, 2027. Of that amount, the city listed $58.6 million as General Fund balance, $15.8 million as Caltrans relinquishment funds, $9.3 million as PERS reserve, $7.8 million as homeless shelter and outreach reserves, $5.9 million as emergency contingency, $1.8 million in surplus funds earmarked, and $1.8 million in other reserves for IT replacement and police department equipment.

Measure W funding was also highlighted. The city projected $14 million in Measure W revenue, with the presentation showing $4 million for police services, $3.4 million for park maintenance, $2.4 million for community services, $1.3 million for patrol, $1.3 million for public works, $1.4 million for general city services, and $206,000 for additional homeless services.

The police equipment discussion followed public comment from local resident Michelle Alfredo, who urged the council to examine police technology as part of a broader surveillance infrastructure and raised concerns about oversight, data access, and out-of-state agencies having access to Flock data. Another speaker also asked the council to pause spending on military-style equipment and surveillance technology until the city provides clearer safeguards, reporting, and public-safety justifications.

Councilmember Vicky Santana questioned the proposed use of asset forfeiture funds for a replacement armored vehicle for the Police Department. Staff explained that the asset forfeiture fund is restricted and must be used for eligible law-enforcement-related expenditures.

Police Chief Aviv Bar told the council that Whittier currently operates two armored vehicles, one from 2016 and another believed to date back to 1979. Bar said the department is seeking to replace the older vehicle, which he said is used by the SWAT team during planned operations such as search warrants and arrest warrants, as well as during unplanned incidents when officers need protection.

Whittier Police Chief Aviv Bar answers council questions about the department’s armored vehicle replacement, drone use, AB 481 reporting, and data retention during the FY 2026–27 budget hearing. Screenshot from City of Whittier public meeting broadcast, CityTV Channel 3.

Bar said the vehicle can be used in situations where regular police cars do not provide enough protection, giving the example of a mental health crisis involving a person with a gun who posed a threat to neighbors, the public, and responding officers.

Santana asked whether the armored vehicle is considered military equipment. Bar said that under California’s AB 481 reporting framework, armored vehicles and law enforcement drones fall under the state definition of military equipment, even though Whittier does not receive them from the military and the armored vehicles are not weaponized.

Santana also asked for more transparency in future reports about police use of drones and other equipment, saying residents have concerns about privacy, data sharing, and whether drones are being used to spy on members of the public.

Bar responded that Whittier police do not use drones to spy on residents. Councilmember Aida Macedo also asked about drone data and how it is stored. Bar said Whittier police drones provide a live stream to officers and commanders for decision-making during incidents, but that the department does not record or retain drone footage.

Bar also said data from the city’s Flock camera system is retained for 30 days and then deleted. He said the data is stored on vendor servers.

The budget discussion also touched on pension costs and prior compensation decisions. Santana raised concerns about the long-term budget impact of pay increases approved by the previous council, saying those decisions created obligations the current council is now legally required to honor. She also asked how compensation increases affect future PERS obligations.

The council also discussed staffing changes in the City Manager’s Office. Staff said the budget reflects the elimination or unfunding of several positions, including the public information officer and assistant city manager, while adding deputy city manager positions and a management assistant position focused on constituent services.

Santana praised the addition of a constituent-services role, saying residents need a clearer system for getting answers from the city when they raise concerns. She said residents should receive acknowledgment and follow-up, even when the city cannot resolve a problem the way a resident wants.

After approving the city budget, the council separately considered the Whittier Housing Authority budget.

Councilmember Mary Ann Pacheco asked staff to explain what the Housing Authority does, saying residents sometimes ask about landlord-tenant issues and assume the Housing Authority handles those matters.

Staff explained that the Whittier Housing Authority was formed after the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in 2012 and took over certain housing-related assets. Some funds came from outstanding loan repayments tied to former redevelopment activity. Staff said the Housing Authority does not have a major new ongoing source of revenue, but it still holds housing-related funds and loan receivables.

Staff said approximately $250,000 annually is used to support the Whittier Navigation Center, with other costs going toward administration, audits, legal services, and professional consulting. Staff also said some Housing Authority funds may eventually be used for the former Alpha Beta site if that project moves forward.

Pacheco clarified that the Housing Authority is not a general landlord-tenant agency, but rather a body connected to affordable housing assets, redevelopment-successor housing funds, and homelessness-related housing services.

The council then approved the Whittier Housing Authority budget.

The Whittier Utility Authority budget was also approved, with no substantive council questions during that portion of the item.

The budget approvals came during a lengthy meeting that also included public comments, consent calendar discussion, a brief closed session, and later agenda items dealing with federal housing funds and other city business.