Supervisors signaled their intention Tuesday to approve a $415.5 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The Board will make a final vote on the budget on June 24.
The budget proposal includes $391.6 million in new revenues, largely state and federal resources for safety net services, road projects, and a planned use of $23.8 million from various fund balances to support expenditures of $415.5 million. It has increased 2.2% over estimated expenses for fiscal year 2024-25, in part driven by three bridge replacement projects approved mid-year.
Chief Fiscal Officer Erin Mettler said the County is in the challenging position of having to prepare a budget without knowing how 44% of its funding will play out due to uncertainties with federal and state funding.
“We’re choosing to be a bit optimistic, a bit realistic and hopeful that our safety net programs and services will remain intact in some way,” she said. “We have contingency plans in place for how to navigate anything that gets thrown at us next year.”
The budget focuses on the Board of Supervisors’ priority objectives: fiscal stability/core services, emergency preparedness, economic development, broadband, housing resilience, homelessness, recreation and climate.
The nearly 700-page document outlines the County’s proposed spending on all its operations, including public safety (sheriff, district attorney, public defender, probation, emergency services), community development (public works, planning, cannabis), health and human services (behavioral health, social services, housing), information general services (library, airport, technology), elections and more.
Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall praised staff members for their efforts in putting together the budget. “I’m really pleased you are coming forward with a fiscally prudent balanced budget,” she said.
Supervisors are encouraging residents to reach out and ask questions about the budget. This year, the County increased public communication, including publishing social media posts for each agency, highlighting funding sources and services provided to residents. The posts on the County’s Facebook and Instagram pages attracted 5,000 engagements. Local media outlets also reported on the budget.
The budget can be viewed at www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/Budget or at local libraries. Residents can email feedback to bdofsupervisors@NevadaCountyCa.gov or to the supervisor who represents their district. Information about supervisor districts is at www.NevadaCountyCa.gov/BOS.