A Message from MEA President Michele Chicarelli

Happy Spring! Every year, while we celebrate the warmer and longer days, the arrival of Spring also means that we are heading into the most intense time in the upcoming City Budget process.

As the City faces its current challenges, we can help you stay informed with what’s real, not rumor or speculation. We’ve seen this before. After all, we are the union created by City employees for City employees. MEA has institutional knowledge that the City’s decision-makers listen to, and we help both them, and you, make sense of it all.

In this April newsletter, we provide updates on the City Budget process, announce a new way to get information (MEA has an app!), and share reminders about how and why to stay in touch with your union.

For example, MEA is heading into the busy social season – watch for emailed eblasts or enable push notifications in the new MEA App to get up-to-date news about social events (MEA Night at the Padres, MEA Summer Picnic, MEA Night at The Old Globe), the City Budget, and more.

Please read below and remember to reach out to MEA staff when you have questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

Michele Chicarelli

President, MEA Board of Directors

MEA has an App!

We have an exciting announcement – MEA has an app! Members asked for an additional way to get info and stay in touch and here it is!

While the MEA website is optimized for use on your desktop, tablet, and phone, many members also want to use an app. Now you have the option to have MEA right there on your phone’s home screen.

To download, go to either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store using the embedded links below, depending on your device, and download the app:

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

Don’t want to use the links? Then open the relevant app store for your device and search for San Diego Municipal Employees (Apple) or SD Municipal Employees Assoc (Google).

How to Set Up Push Notifications

Once downloaded, the app will ask if you want to allow push notifications. Choosing “allow” will provide you with a notification whenever a message from MEA is sent out. It’s like receiving an MEA eblast in your email inbox but will arrive to your mobile device in whatever way you have set up your notifications.

And, if you want to change your push notification setting, just open the app, go to Settings in the bottom right-hand corner, and toggle push notifications to the setting you want.

City Budget Update and Timeline

The City’s “Budget season” is nearly upon us. For the past few months, information about the City financial situation has been coming in, helping define what funds will be available for use in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. There has been a lot of information and discussion, but the majority of decisions have not yet been made. The Mayor and City Council will ultimately make those decisions during the upcoming budget process that will play out over the next few months and beyond.

As always, MEA is actively engaged and advocating for you. When you have questions or concerns, please reach out to MEA at info@sdmea.org or by calling the MEA Office at (619) 264-6632.

What’s Happened So Far?

November 2024 – Measure E, a 1-cent sales tax initiative for the City of San Diego, fails. Without the additional $400 million into the City’s General Fund, the City will have some serious decisions to make. Read MEA’s eblast.
December 2024 – MEA’s General Manager, Michael Zucchet, presents at the City Council Budget and Government Efficiency Committee, outlining recommendations and considerations to make the required cuts to the FY2026 budget less dramatic.
- Watch MEA’s presentations to the City Council’s Budget and Government Efficiency Committee on December 11 about outsized increases in exempted positions and the FY 2026 – 2030 Five-Year Financial Outlook.
January 2025 – Under San Diego’s Strong Mayor form of government, the City Council takes action on the City Budget where it can, increasing parking meter rates, thereby acting on some of the recommendations of MEA of increasing revenues to the General Fund.
February 5, 2025 – MEA’s General Manager, Michael Zucchet, presents at the City Council Budget and Government Efficiency Committee on the FY2025 Mid-Year Budget Monitoring Report and asks who is running the City. The Councilmembers then call for the City Chief Operating Officer (COO), Eric Dargan, to come in-person to answer their questions on the budget.
February 18, 2025 – the Mayor dismisses the COO and takes on the job himself and “announces $5 million in cuts in attempt to balance budget”.

What’s Next?

Mid-April, the serious budget deliberations start when the Mayor releases his proposed budget (April 15) which is followed by nearly two months of discussion, analysis, and amendments until the City Council approves the budget in mid-June. For a detailed schedule of Key Budget Dates, click here.

A lot can change during this time. Try to avoid rumor or speculation. Instead, please reach out to MEA at info@sdmea.org or by calling the MEA Office at (619) 264-6632 if you have any questions, concerns, or want an update.

Get to Know Your MEA Benefits

Tuition Refund Plan and Supplemental Tuition Reimbursement

Are you thinking of taking some sort of training for your job? Get to know the Tuition Refund Plan and MEA’s Supplemental Tuition Reimbursement benefit.

Article 75 of the Memorandum of Understanding establishes the Tuition Refund Plan where the City will reimburse an employee for up to $2000 per fiscal year for “seminars or other training and educational events which will maintain or enhance an employee’s job-related skills or knowledge or contribute to the employee’s broadening and diversification of their skills”. Review the City’s Administrative Regulation 70.30 for the specifics. Be sure to get your department’s approval before attending any reimbursable event.

Supplemental Tuition Reimbursement

If an MEA member reaches that $2,000 reimbursement level in any fiscal year, MEA will reimburse an additional $500 of educational expenses directly from MEA.

Once you reach the $2,000 City reimbursement limit, MEA members can reach out to MEA for next steps about how to secure MEA’s additional $500 of tuition reimbursement.

Note, to qualify for the MEA reimbursement of $500, you must be an MEA member for at least one year.

For questions, contact MEA at info@sdmea.org or by calling the MEA Office at (619) 264-6632.

Discount Tickets for MEA Members

Looking for more fun for you and your family? MEA has discount tickets!

Check out the latest releases in the theater with discounted movie tickets available for sale at the MEA Office.
Find discounted tickets to theme parks and local attractions like the Zoo & Safari Park, water parks, aquariums, and more.
See live theater productions with MEA discounts with the award-winning local theater companies, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse.

For more information and to access tickets, visit the MEA website.

Have Questions? Need Assistance?

Contact Your MEA Labor Relations Officer!

MEA Labor Relations Officers are experts in the workplace laws, rules, regulations, and policies that apply to you, whether City, state or Federal, and that’s only the beginning of what they can help you with.

Get the assistance and information you need to protect your job and succeed in your career at the City.

Click here to find your Labor Relations Officer or reach out to MEA at info@sdmea.org or by calling the MEA Office at (619) 264-6632.

San Diego Municipal Employees Association