FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — Mayor Jerry Dyer was joined by a host of city leaders at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center on Thursday to address where Fresno is progressing, needs improvement, and how the city is gearing up for the future. One of the first topics discussed during Thursday's meeting involved the city’s budget. “On March 21, I reported to the city council that we would be facing as much as a $37 million shortfall. After much work by me and my staff, a balanced budget will be presented to the council one week from today,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said. The mayor also spoke about homelessness in the state, and what Fresno is doing to help those on the streets. “Since I took office in 2021, we have provided emergency shelter to over 7,000 people experiencing homelessness and of those, 50% of them have been provided with permanent housing,” Mayor Dyer said. Mayor Dyer also touted a decrease in crime. “In 2023, murders decreased by nearly 4%. That’s the second-highest decrease of any major city in the United States. That is 35 fewer families that did not have to bury a loved one due to a violent crime occurring in our city,” Mayor Dyer said. And the Fresno Mayor said work will soon begin to ramp up cleanup on freeways. “I will be seeking additional funds to increase trash removal from our freeways. In fact, we’re going to be doubling down. You will begin to see increased cleanups on 99 and 41 beginning next week,” Mayor Dyer said. Mayor Dyer also called on landlords to help lower rent prices in the city to help the economy bounce back.