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Board Chambers MeetingsAuthor: Sacramento County
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Board of Supervisors Budget Meeting - 6/10/26
Episode 247
Monday, 15 June, 2026
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 10, 2026, was primarily focused on the revision and approval of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Recommended Budget and the five-year Capital Improvement Plan. The meeting featured a detailed presentation by the County Executive and Chief Fiscal Officer, followed by reports from seven key departments and extensive public testimony. Fiscal Overview and Challenges Chief Fiscal Officer Amanda Thomas presented an $8.9 Billion all-funds spending plan, which represented a $101 million operating deficit driven by two primary factors: Structural Deficit: The ongoing reliance on one-time funding to pay for continuing costs. Federal HR 1 Impacts: Changes at the federal level that shifted approximately $50 million in costs to the county, particularly regarding Med-Cal eligibility, indigent care, and CalFresh administrative costs. To address the shortfall, the Board had previously directed departments to implement a 2.5% initial allocation reduction. Departmental Budget Presentations District Attorney (Tan Ho): Ho opposed a proposed $4.1 million reduction (14 positions), arguing his office was already "running on fumes". He emphasized that "vacant" positions were actually committed to law students slated to pass the bar and that cuts would force him to scale back misdemeanor prosecutions and the Community Prosecution unit. Sheriff’s Office (Jim Cooper): The Sheriff contested a $13.7 million reduction (48 positions), asserting that while "core functions" like jails and contracts were mandated, the cuts would decimate "non-core" but vital public safety units such as POP (Problem Oriented Policing), HOT (Homeless Outreach Team), and Marine Enforcement. He highlighted that the county already has the fewest officers per capita in the region and response times are double the national average. Public Defender (Amanda Benson): Benson reported a 20% increase in criminal filings and a 300% increase in City Attorney cases. She warned that cutting mental health diversion and post-conviction representation units would lead to caseload overloads and increased county liability. Regional Parks (Liz Bellis): Bellis noted that while the park system has grown 70% in acreage since 1991, permanent staff has decreased by 15%. Proposed cuts included three park rangers (a 17% reduction to the Parkway patrol) and a 46% reduction in extra-help seasonal staff. Human Assistance (Ethan Dye): Dye focused on the impacts of HR 1 on CalFresh, noting that every dollar spent by the county now only draws down $3.44 in state/federal funds, compared to $5.67 previously. Health Services (Tim Letts): This department accounts for 70% of health spending via Behavioral Health. Letts highlighted growth for a new youth facility but noted intense pressure from the Mays Consent Decree, which requires significant staffing and infrastructure investments in correctional health. Public Comment and Deliberations Over 120 residents and officials provided testimony. Business leaders and community members strongly advocated for restoring the Sheriff’s HOT and POP teams and the DA’s Community Prosecutors, citing their effectiveness in addressing retail theft and homelessness. Conversely, many community advocates urged the Board to maintain the DA and Sheriff cuts, suggesting the DA could save millions by ending the pursuit of the death penalty. Others pleaded for the restoration of foster youth transportation (Hop Skip Drive) and prevention programs like Birth and BEYOND. Final Board Actions After extensive debate regarding the use of the 9.9 million in funding: Sheriff’s Office: Restored funding for the Marine and HOT teams ($7,894,989), but notably did not include the POP team. District Attorney: Restored four Community Prosecutor positions (~$1.37 million) contingent on an MOU to ensure the funds are used for that specific purpose. Public Defender: Restored funding for critical caseload support ($649,076). The Board agreed to revisit other high-priority "prevention" programs—including foster youth transportation, Birth and BEYOND, and public health initiatives—during the September budget revision when final state funding numbers are clearer. The final action left the county with a remaining contingency of $6,330,683.
