STOCKTON — San Joaquin County is proposing a $2.8 billion structurally-balanced budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
It reflects a $48.3 million increase from this year’s budget.
Overall, $2.4 billion, or 84.3% of the budget is supported by departmental revenue including State and Federal funding, charges for services, and use of non-General Fund available fund balances. The remaining $444.1 million is funded by General Purpose Revenue.
The 2024-2025 Special Districts Proposed Budget totals $61.5 million, a decrease of $1.2 million from the 2023-2024 Adopted Budget, and includes the Special Districts administered by the Public Works Department and the Parks and Recreation Division of the General Services Department.
“In alignment with our tradition of prudent fiscal management, the 2024-2025 Proposed Budget is structurally-balanced and strategically allocates resources to the Board’s strategic priority areas,” said Interim San Joaquin County Administrator Sandy Regalo.
“We have taken deliberate steps to ensure our investments are sustainable and we maintain healthy reserve levels to safeguard against economic uncertainties in the future.”
The budget reflects an increase in property tax revenue of 4% while sales tax is expected to decrease 4%.
Some noteworthy takes from the proposed budget:
*Continues a structurally balanced budget totaling $2.82 billion for the 11th consecutive year. No prior year General Fund balance is used to fund the budget.
*Maintains a Reserve for Contingencies balance of $130 million to comply with the Board’s policy of setting the balance at five percent of total appropriations.
*Funds the full 5% contribution toward the unfunded retirement liability at a cost of $31.7 million, with a Net County Cost of $10.8 million.
*Increases staff positions by 172 full-time equivalents (FTEs) across multiple departments.
*Includes funding for all negotiated labor increases. The largest group of employees will receive a 4% increase in July 2024.
*Invests in the SJ CARES program (through the Probation Department), which is a Countywide multidisciplinary team approach to address homelessness in San Joaquin County. The program will support clients on probation who are experiencing homelessness, along with homeless citizens who are deemed high-end users of multiple County systems.
*Coordinates the transition of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to the Behavioral Health Services Act after the passage of Proposition 1 in March 2024. The 18-month transition will include a shift in spending for housing and early intervention. $119.2 million in MHSA funding is programed for 2024-2025.
*Funds the CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HousingWORKs) through the First 5 program and Human Services Agency. This program provides homeless CalWORKs families with housing navigation and case management. HousingWORKs will serve 500 families in 2024-2025 with $4.85 million in funding.
*Invests in multiple public safety departments that include increasing staffing in law enforcement and deploying new technologies to meet existing demands for mandated services and delivery of services.
*Works to reduce fentanyl overdoses and deaths through public education, staff training and legislation.
*Targets funding for services and partnerships to address the needs of sex trafficking victims.
For 2024-2025, 34 projects are proposed, totaling approximately $81.3 million in new construction and existing facility renovations. New construction totaling $59.1 million includes some of the following highlights:
*Dorothy J. Heisler Detention and Program Facility (SB 1022): For construction of a new medium security housing and program facility to replace the existing Honor Farm barracks.
*Emergency Medical Services Warehouse: For design, engineering, and construction of a pre-engineered metal facility for departmental emergency services requirements.
*Hazelton Complex Facility: For design, engineering, and construction of a replacement facility for the Community Development, Environmental Health, and Public Works Departments.
*Morgue/Medical Examiner Facility Replacement: For construction of a new Morgue/Medical Examiner facility.
*Old Court House Demolition: For design, engineering, and demolition of the existing facility located at 222 E. Weber Avenue.
*New Registrar of Voters Facility: For design and engineering of a new Registrar of Voters facility.
