Budget Survey Results Highlight Community Priorities
Published on June 10, 2026
Final Budget Survey Results: What We Heard
The “Let’s Talk Budget, Culver City” budget survey closed on June 3, 2026 with 373 total responses from residents, employees, business and property owners, and other community members. The results were communicated to the City Council.
It provides a useful snapshot of community input. Respondents emphasized the importance of public safety, infrastructure, parks and community spaces, fiscal discipline, transparency, and continued investment in core services.
Overall, the feedback supports the City’s back-to-basics budget approach and highlights several key community priorities that will continue to help inform future budget discussions, community engagement, and implementation of a priority-based budgeting framework.
Top City Service Priorities
Respondents were asked which City services are most important to them. Public safety remained the most frequently selected service priority.
- Public safety: 257 responses
Police, Fire, and emergency preparedness
- Street repair and sidewalk maintenance: 211 responses
- Parks, recreation, and community programs: 157 responses
- Traffic and mobility improvements: 113 responses
Where the Community Wants Additional Investment
When asked where the City should prioritize investments if additional funding becomes available, respondents continued to place the strongest emphasis on infrastructure.
- Street and infrastructure improvements: 214 responses
- Parks and recreation facilities: 162 responses
- Public safety services: 147 responses
- Small business support and economic development: 93 responses
- Youth and senior services: 73 responses
- Homelessness programs: 70 responses
- Affordable housing programs: 67 responses
How Respondents Think About Cost Savings
Respondents were also asked where the City should prioritize cost savings if reductions are needed to remain financially stable.
- Contracted services and consultants: 188 responses
- Administrative costs: 123 responses
- New programs and initiatives: 96 responses
- Special events: 73 responses
- Do not reduce services: 59 responses
Preferred Approach to Future Budget Shortfalls
When asked how the City should address future budget shortfalls, respondents favored a balanced approach rather than relying on only one strategy.
- Reduce spending: 218 responses
- Identify new revenue sources: 189 responses
- Delay capital projects: 140 responses
- Increase fees for certain services: 79 responses
- Use reserve funds temporarily: 46 responses
Satisfaction with Current City Services
Satisfaction with City services remained generally positive, though the larger response pool reflected a broader range of views.
- 62 respondents said they were very satisfied
- 163 respondents said they were somewhat satisfied
- 51 respondents were neutral
- 45 respondents were somewhat dissatisfied
- 38 respondents were very dissatisfied
- 14 respondents selected other
Together, 225 respondents reported being either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with current City services.
At the same time, open-ended responses continued to identify areas where residents want to see improvement, including infrastructure maintenance, traffic and mobility, fiscal accountability, homelessness and housing affordability, and communication about City priorities.
Themes from Open-Ended Responses
The open-ended responses provided additional context behind the numbers.
Many participants called for continued investment in basic infrastructure, including:
- Streets
- Sidewalks
- Alleys
- Lighting
- Park maintenance
- Community facilities
Several comments specifically emphasized sidewalk safety, pothole repairs, street lighting, and improvements to fields and recreation spaces.
Other respondents emphasized:
- Public safety
- Fiscal responsibility
- Housing affordability
- Homelessness response
- Workforce support
- Support for local businesses
- Greater transparency around budget decisions
Respondents also raised questions about spending discipline, whether certain programs or projects are financially sustainable, and how the City will communicate progress over time.
Mobility and Transportation Feedback
Mobility and transportation remained an area with mixed views.Some respondents supported improved bike access, connected bike and bus routes, and transit improvements.Others expressed concerns about traffic flow, lane reductions, parking, traffic calming, and the cost or effectiveness of transportation-related projects.
Overall Takeaways
The final survey results are broadly consistent with the priorities previously identified by the City Council:
- Strengthening long-term financial sustainability
- Investing in public infrastructure and community spaces
- Addressing housing, affordability, and homelessness
The responses strengthened the emphasis on infrastructure, parks and recreation, public safety, fiscal discipline, and transparency.
The feedback also supports the City’s continued focus on a back-to-basics budget approach centered on core services, visible improvements, accountability, and long-term financial stability.
How This Input Will Be Used
This survey should be understood as one part of the City’s broader budget engagement process. It does not represent a statistically valid survey of the entire community, but it provides valuable insight into the views of residents and stakeholders who chose to participate.
The feedback helps clarify what many community members want the City to prioritize:
- Maintaining the basics
- Spending carefully
- Preserving essential services
- Investing in visible improvements
- Communicating clearly about budget decisions and tradeoffs
As the City moves forward, these responses will continue to help inform budget deliberations, future community engagement, and implementation of a priority-based budgeting approach.