The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously adopted a balanced $6.9 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The budget fully funds increased costs to maintain current public service levels, makes a substantial contribution to capital project needs, and allocates funding to many projects and programs that support the Countywide Vision and the board’s goals and objectives.
“The Board’s longstanding fiscally prudent approach, coupled with continued growth in property and sales tax revenues, has placed the County in a position to take care of immediate needs and strategically invest in the future,” County Chief Executive Officer Gary McBride wrote to the Board.
Examples of funding recommendations include allocations to:
- Enhance public safety, such as the Sheriff Department’s Hope and START programs),
- Improve decision-making capabilities through the use of technology, such as Esri GIS licenses and support),
- Address workload issues, particularly staffing for the District Attorney and Public Defender,
- Invest in capital projects, such as gully funding the Valley Dispatch Center project.
The budget includes $406.9 million in reserves, $1 billion toward law and justice, $2.3 billion for human services, and $721 million for Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.