Budget Simulator

What if you were in charge? Drag the sliders to build your own budget.

How would YOU balance the budget?

Start with the real FY 2025-26 General Fund operating expenditures ($89.5M). Drag the sliders to reallocate spending between departments. Watch how changes affect per-capita spending and see trade-offs in action.

Your Total

$89.5M

$0.0M vs actual

Per Resident

$1739

was $1739

Back to actual budget

Community Safety Fixed Contract

$23.4M

Sheriff & Fire contracts are fixed by LA County — the city cannot easily reduce these.

Public Works

$16.5M

$8.3M (-50%)Actual: $16.5M$24.8M (+50%)

Community & Cultural Services

$15.8M

$7.9M (-50%)Actual: $15.8M$23.7M (+50%)

Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts

$12.3M

$6.2M (-50%)Actual: $12.3M$18.5M (+50%)

Administrative Services

$11.4M

$5.7M (-50%)Actual: $11.4M$17.1M (+50%)

Community Development

$6.7M

$3.3M (-50%)Actual: $6.7M$10.0M (+50%)

Legislative & Administrative

$3.4M

$1.7M (-50%)Actual: $3.4M$5.1M (+50%)

What you're learning

•Fixed costs matter: The Sheriff + Fire contracts ($23.4M) are negotiated with LA County and can't easily change. That's 26% of the budget locked in.
•Trade-offs are real: Increasing one department means finding savings elsewhere — or raising taxes.
•Per-capita impact: Every $1M change = about $19.43 per resident. Small percentages = big impacts.

Data: City of Cerritos FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget — General Fund Operating Expenditures | Population: 51,460