Last week’s announcement by the city that the 2026 summer swim program has been cancelled due to budget reasons was premature, City Manager Doug Dunford told the City Council on Monday.

The social media posting, which directed Ceres residents to a link for Modesto’s swim program, drew community backlash and prompted Ceres Planning Commission chairman Gary Condit to air his protests at Monday’s meeting. The notice has since been pulled from Facebook.

“The announcement was made with little public explanation,” said Condit, “and I do want to thank Councilmember Otero for taking the time and initiative to clarify on her social media platform that decision was based on budgetary constraints.”

Condit said: “What is concerning is not only the lack of transparency, but also the apparent priorities this decision reflects. Community-based recreational programs, particularly those that promote use safety and family engagement, appear to be the first in services cut.”

He went on to blast members for accepting approximately $100,000 a year in premium health insurance.

“If fiscal responsibility is the guiding principle, it is reasonable to ask why reductions are not considered first in the elected officials’ perks and benefits before programs serving children and families,” said Condit. “Budgetary decisions reflect values. The removal of youth focus recreational programs sends a troubling message about whose interests are being protected. Our city already struggles with opportunity for our youth and families to gather, and it seems like the city’s answer to this is we’re going to send them to Turlock and Modesto. It’s not a very good message.”

For decades the city has offered swim lessons, water aerobics and open swim sessions at the Ceres High School pool.

At the end of the meeting, Mayor Javier Lopez asked the council to explore options to keep the aquatics program and “get a better understanding on why the decision was made by the Parks and Rec Department.”

Dunford said talk about cancelling the aquatics program came out of budget forecasting for the 2026-27 fiscal year budget which is facing expenditure reductions.

“Should they have put it out on social media? Probably not because it’s not ironed in stone,” said Dunford. He also noted that planning a council agenda item regarding aquatics is “premature when we’re doing budget talks because we don’t know where we’re standing with the budget right now. We won’t until we’re ready to present it to the council.”

The mayor responded by saying “at least I want to have the ability to have that conversation.” He also stated after talking to Recreation Manager Joey Chavez that “he made a decision based on what the future would look like instead of cutting the program last minute after hiring people.”

Dunford replied that Chavez didn’t make that decision by himself.”

Councilman James Casey commented that he wants the council constantly apprised of where the budget is headed so there are no surprises.