Gordo Launches Budget Advisory Group to Plan for Pasadena’s Fiscal Future

Pasadena City Hall aerial view (Photo – ColoradoBoulevard.net).

Pasadena Mayor Victor M. Gordo has announced the formation of a Mayor’s Budget Advisory Working Group, a new collaborative effort designed to proactively assess the city’s financial condition and develop recommendations to support long-term fiscal sustainability.

By News Desk

The working group is scheduled to begin meeting on Wednesday, January 14, and is expected to convene weekly. Its work is anticipated to conclude by the end of March 2026, at which point the group will submit a report to the Mayor and City Council outlining proposed concepts and strategies for consideration.

“As we face economic headwinds, the best way forward is to act early and act together,” Mayor Gordo said. He emphasized the importance of engaging both city employees and residents, noting that their day-to-day experience and community perspective provide critical insight as Pasadena works to sustain the high-quality public services residents expect.

Mayor Gordo has asked former Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek to lead and chair the Mayor’s Budget Advisory Working Group that will include City staff, labor representatives, and city residents working together.  It is not a council committee, but a hands-on working group that will provide the Mayor and City Council with a report on concepts and strategies for consideration.

According to the Mayor’s office, the mission of the working group is to collaboratively evaluate Pasadena’s financial condition and deliver informed, equitable, and data-driven recommendations. Areas of focus will include potential revenue enhancements, expenditure efficiencies or realignments, and structural changes to city operations, all aimed at maintaining a balanced budget that reflects the values and priorities of Pasadena’s residents, workforce, and community stakeholders.

“This effort is about planning ahead rather than reacting later,” Mayor Gordo said. “By bringing people to the table early, we can better navigate challenges and protect the services that make Pasadena a strong and caring city.”

Additional information, including details on the working group’s timeline and reporting process, is expected to be released as the effort moves forward.