Summary
The county faces a $3.16 million general fund deficit next year with flat sales tax, slowing property tax growth, and rising pension and insurance costs. Supervisors settled on a hard hiring freeze and a 5% department cut — and warned that even after all this, roads get almost nothing beyond the bare minimum.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 6
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 8, 2026.
Impact analysis
A $3.16 million deficit, a million dollars in hiring-freeze savings, and a $638,000 debt-service saving now that the admin building bonds are paid off.
Taxpayers who want a balanced budget without new revenue.
County employees facing a hiring freeze and departments absorbing 5% cuts; road maintenance stays at bare minimum.
Mentions & discussions (6)
Board of Supervisors — September 8, 2026
The county adopted its final budget for the year, but the CAO told supervisors next year could start $3.5 million in the red thanks to rising PERS, health care, and insurance costs, plus slowing property and sales tax growth. Expect more cuts and hard conversations ahead.
Board of Supervisors — June 9, 2026
The county adopted its budget while carrying a structural deficit — the carryover dropped from over $6 million to $4.7 million, and PERS and liability insurance costs keep climbing. The board will have to decide next year whether to make deep cuts all at once or keep trimming gradually.
Board of Supervisors — April 28, 2026
Sheriff, DA, and Probation all met or beat the board's 5% budget cut, but supervisors warned services will suffer if position freezes continue — and Supervisor Oneto argued public safety's 40% share of the general fund is crowding out road funding. The sheriff defended his take-home vehicle program and staffing structure as retention and accountability necessities.
Board of Supervisors — April 14, 2026
The county is facing a $3-4 million deficit, and UCCE programs — 4-H, Master Gardeners, Master Food Preservers — were staring at a 34% cut. Public testimony convinced the Board to hold UCCE to the same 5% cut as other departments, but the big fights over sheriff, probation, and road budgets come April 28.
Board of Supervisors — March 24, 2026
The county faces a $3.1 million deficit heading toward $3.5 million as health insurance and pension costs climb faster than flat sales tax revenue. Departments were told to cut general fund costs by 5%, and services like libraries, community grants, and possibly staffing are on the chopping block.
Board of Supervisors — February 24, 2026
The county faces a $3.16 million general fund deficit next year with flat sales tax, slowing property tax growth, and rising pension and insurance costs. Supervisors settled on a hard hiring freeze and a 5% department cut — and warned that even after all this, roads get almost nothing beyond the bare minimum.
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