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Friday, June 26 | ☀️ 99°/71°
Happy Friday, everyone, where we have an early heads up: We’ll be off for the Independence Day holiday next Friday, so there won’t be a newsletter. There will, however, be plenty of things to do in the city to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. See below for the complete guide and we’ll see you back here bright and early on July 10!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Living in America" by James Brown
Leading Off
The City Council Chamber at Palm Desert City Hall. (File photo)
Palm Desert adopts $112 million budget amid scrutiny over transparency
The Palm Desert City Council on Thursday approved a $112 million General Fund budget for fiscal year 2027, a 2.3% increase over the current fiscal year’s budget driven by public safety and infrastructure spending.
Zoom in: The budget allocates roughly two-thirds of general fund spending to infrastructure, including rebuilding Fire Station 33 on El Paseo and Fire Station 71 on Country Club Drive — projects together costing more than $20 million.
Other major capital items include a stormwater retention basin at Cook Street and Gerald Ford Drive ($5 million), improvements to Housing Authority homes ($3.4 million), and sidewalk and mobility upgrades ($3.2 million).
By the numbers: Police spending rose 7% year over year, though contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff's Office increased just 1%. The larger jump is attributable to a new $1.5 million contingency fund added by the city manager.
Councilmember Karina Moreno questioned the fund, noting that a similar contingency of $85,000 from the prior fiscal year went unused. Budget Analyst Skky Wolkowicz said the sheriff's office initially requested more than what the city ultimately determined was needed, and the contingency was added in case actual spending tracks closer to that original request.
At issue: Councilmembers also raised concerns about budget transparency, with Moreno holding up a physical copy of last year's budget as a contrast to what she described as a less accessible presentation this year.
"This doesn't feel that way at all, and we need to do better to provide consistency in the services," she said. Staff attributed the problem partly to technical issues with the city's website renovation and pledged to improve next year.
Briefly
🏠 Palm Desert home sales rise as prices dip slightly
Palm Desert home sales rose year-over-year during the three-month period ending in May, even as prices fell, according to the latest Greater Palm Springs Realtors Desert Housing Report. The city recorded 178 sales compared to 168 during the same period in 2025.
The median price for a detached home in Palm Desert fell 2.9% to $711,200, while attached home prices dropped 2.4% to $514,200. Valley-wide, the median detached home price fell 3.6% to $675,000, and overall sales are running about 19.3% below average. The report indicates the market is shifting toward a more balanced state, favoring neither buyers nor sellers.
Details: Homes in Palm Desert are taking longer to sell, averaging 52 days on the market compared to 48 days last year. Valley-wide inventory fell 8% year-over-year to 3,358 units, with Palm Desert's supply shrinking from 776 homes to 754.
📅 Featured Events
"Plant & Sip" By Heddy Salerno
Monday | 11:30 a.m. | Classic Club
Heddy Salerno will guide you step-by-step as you create a unique living centerpiece that reflects your personal style. ($66)
Library Advisory Committee
Monday | 1 p.m. | City Hall
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person and may provide public comment for up to three minutes. Send your comments by email to: [email protected].
LGBTQ+ Youth Hangout Palm Desert
Wednesday | 4:30 p.m. | Portola Community Center
A weekly safe-space hangout for youth ages 10–18 featuring games, art projects, and films. The group has moved to a new location at Portola Community Center, 45480 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, effective May 7.
Rat Pack Duo
Wednesday | 6 p.m. | Hotel Paseo
Live Rat Pack-style duo performance at Hotel Paseo.
Line Dancing
Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. | Civic Center Park
The Desert Recreation District hosts a weekly line dancing class led by instructor MC Callaghan, covering classics like the Electric Slide and Tush Push. No prior experience required. ($17 drop-in / $68 resident session)
Board Game Night
Thursday | 5 p.m. | The Dragon Den
Bring your own games or try one of The Dragon Den's rentals, with a selection of strategy, area-control, and cooperative titles. Solo players welcome — it's a great way to meet new friends. ($10–$20)
✨ And Finally …
Palm Desert is marking July 4 with a full evening of festivities at Civic Center Park — and this year's celebration carries a little extra star-spangled weight as part of the America250 commemoration of the nation's 250th birthday.
Driving the news: The city's annual Independence Day event features games, live music, food vendors, and a fireworks finale, with America250-themed giveaways and surprises woven throughout the evening.
Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. with family-friendly activities behind the Family YMCA of the Desert; food trucks and vendors open at 5 p.m.
On stage: The Swing Cats Big Band takes the main stage at 7 p.m., performing a mix of swing favorites and American classics.
The finale: A fireworks display begins at 9 p.m. and runs approximately 20 minutes, synchronized to patriotic music broadcast on Mix 100.5 FM and 98.5 The Bull.
Worth noting: A Sensory Safe Space will be available at the Portola Community Center, 45480 Portola Ave., from 8 to 9:30 p.m., with earplugs also on hand at the event. A free, air-conditioned shuttle runs between The Gardens on El Paseo and Civic Center Park from 6 to 10 p.m.
Civic Center Park is located at 73510 Fred Waring Dr. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low-back chairs, and picnic items.
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