What’s at stake?
On Monday, Fresno County begins hearings to adopt their next fiscal year’s record-high $5.5 billion budget. Like they did last year, the hearings include presentations from eight departments.
On Monday, Fresno County will begin hearings for its proposed $5.5 billion budget, a fiscal plan that supports its workforce of more than 8,300 workers and funds services for its constituency of more than one million residents.
The county’s proposal marks another year with a record-high budget coming before the board, and that’s despite the looming specter of a budgetary shortfall from President Donald Trump’s fiscal policies hanging over their heads.
Some of those effects are reflected in this proposed budget plan, but many of the potential impacts have yet to materialize.
For the second year in a row, eight of the county’s department heads will present their budget plans to the supervisors and the general public.
Despite record high, county warns of fiscal cliff
The county’s record-high $5.5 billion budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year comes with an increase of about $150 million compared to the previous year, representing a 3% growth.
The county also reclaimed the title of the nation’s largest agricultural producer, with a gross production value of more than $9 billion, even as farmers on the west side struggle to keep agricultural land in production as the hammer on the state’s groundwater law comes down hard.
Building off of the tone in last year’s budget address, Fresno County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland wrote in a message included in the proposed budget that the county is continuing “to navigate a challenging and increasingly uncertain fiscal and operating environment.”
Part of that uncertainty comes as the state and federal government reduce funding for a lot of services that the county provides, from health care to food assistance. In particular, Trump’s federal budget plan doesn’t take immediate effect, but rather, in staggered stages, meaning that the fiscal burden on the county’s shoulders will only increase as time goes on.
The county’s potential tab for indigent care – that’s healthcare for people who don’t have insurance or qualify for MediCal – ranges between $41 – $241.1 million. And the president’s cut to federal grants in the last two years have seen local healthcare groups wondering what other fiscal changes may come.
The county is touting continued service rates for many of its essential programs, choosing instead other avenues — like the elimination of vacant positions — as a way to stay solvent. But that’s not enough to help the county stay away from their reserves entirely.
The budget includes $10 million set aside to cover what the county believes will be its new funding match required by H.R. 1 to serve local indigent care residents. The price tag to meet the new requirements set by the federal government are expected to increase in the coming years.
The county is also allocating $13 million in reserve funding toward the Department of Social Services. The funds may be used, the proposed budget says, “based on increases in caseloads for the Foster Care and General Relief programs.”
California counties have lobbied Gov. Gavin Newsom for financial assistance, but the state’s own budgetary woes mean help is unlikely to cover the total projected shortfall.
The county balanced their proposed budget for this next fiscal year using one-time funding sources, illustrating at least to some extent, the current challenges they’re facing.
They’re also skipping on investing into their $90 million general reserve fund this year.
Earlier this year, the county placed Measure A on the November ballot, which will ask residents to approve a Transient Occupancy Tax. The tax, mainly charged on tourists and out-of-towners staying in hotels and short-term lodging, is expected to bring in about $4.5 million annually to the county.
Public Health to get $10 million budget cut
Fresno County’s Public Health Department is the biggest fiscal loser in this year’s budget. The department is expecting to lose about $10 million to its budget compared to last year, or a decrease of about 7%, because of state and federal cuts. The cuts come alongside the loss of 16 vacant positions.
The department’s reduced budget comes after the department had $20 million more to spend last year.
Other departments facing smaller budgets are the Department of Social Services, Probation, Agriculture and the County Administrative Office.
The DSS is not expected to see any reductions to services. However, new requirements for the department to stay within a new federally mandated error rate for CalFresh, the state’s version of the federal food stamp program, could introduce financial penalties in the future.
Sheriff’s Office and Behavioral Health see big gains
Still, most of the county’s departments are projected to see budgetary gains in the proposed plan.
The Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health and the Sheriff’s Office are among the biggest winners in the new proposed budget.
The Sheriff’s Office is projected to see an increase of about 4% to their budget, bringing about $13.6 million in additional funding.
The department is adding six full-time positions, including two new coroners and a crime scene specialist. The new roles at the department are partially funded through the elimination of three vacant roles.
The county budget is also pulling in $15 million in one-time funding toward the new sheriff’s office’s headquarters, which is soon expected to be housed at the buildings on 650 O Street and 705 P St.. The county bought the buildings from developer Darius Assemi earlier this year for about $25 million.
The county’s Behavioral Health department is expecting to see $37 million in additional resources.
However, the county’s proposed budget notes that the increase is partially attributed to estimated increases in Medi-Cal reimbursements, some of which may have been covered by state or federal funding in the past.
The county’s public works department is also seeing big growth, at least on paper. Though it is anticipated that they’ll only gain about $5.7 in additional funding, that represents a growth of about 26%.
The increase is mostly attributed to the remodeling of the basement at the Brix/Mercer building, where the department is located.
District Attorney’s Office continues to struggle with worker retention
The DA’s office is expecting to see growth in its budget for the third year in a row.
However, the proposed budget notes that the district attorney’s office is continuing to see with deputy DAs struggle “under the stress of the swelling caseloads and the lower-end salaries.” The reasons mirror largely grievances shared at last year’s budget meeting.
The proposed budget reads, “Law school enrollments are down nationwide, and many civil firms, State agencies and other counties who pay higher wages and offer better benefits/lifestyle are recruiting the Department’s lawyers.”
The DA’s office is also expecting to lose two grant-funded positions following a reduction in the state’s Welfare Fraud Program funding.
On Tuesday, Fresno County DA Lisa Smittcamp noted that she would like to see increased investment in the department. It is not clear how much financial wiggle room is available for the county in this proposed budget to make any amendments for the department at next week’s hearings.
Will county residents turn out?
Last year, Fresno County shook up its budget process by introducing presentations from eight of its departments: Behavioral Health, District Attorney, Probation, Public Defender, Public Health, Public Works & Planning, Sheriff’s Office and Social Services.
The push, they said, was in an effort to increase transparency by offering residents a budget process similar to the City of Fresno’s.
Local residents largely did not take the county up on that offer.
Last year, the county wrapped up budget hearings for its $5.3 billion budget in about 2.5 hours.
The length of the hearings is largely dependent on how long the line of questioning is from the five county supervisors. However, residents are also afforded the opportunity to comment publicly on the budget
The county’s budget hearings begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14 at the board chambers on the third floor at the Hall of Records. Residents will also be able to participate virtually this year through Zoom.
