Auburn, Calif. – The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a balanced budget of $782 million for the next fiscal year, $34.3 million less than last year’s final budget of $816 million. The county’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
In a first, this year’s budget describes county expenses in terms of the services and programs, expanding upon and complementing the historical expense presentation by department. The move is intended to help residents better understand how their tax dollars are being spent, in order to empower them to have more say in how the county prioritizes its spending.
The 2016-2017 proposed budget:
- Prioritizes economic development with funding for the Sunset Area Plan and the Tahoe Area Plan, critical planning documents outlining future opportunities and strategies for sustainable development in these key areas.
- Addresses countywide homelessness by allocating funding of nearly $1.9 million for homeless needs and services, and additional public safety and public health resources.
- Furthers sustainable development, setting aside $925,000 to finish the Placer County Conservation Plan. When approved, the plan will result in a larger, more contiguous area of open space and natural habitat, as well as a more streamlined, cost-effective and predictable permitting process to promote sustainable future development in unincorporated areas of the county and the City of Lincoln.
- Helps reverse the erosion of library service, and provides one-time funding of $175,000 to replace outdated library materials. In line with the library strategic plan both the Loomis and Meadow Vista Libraries will be recommended for closure. Placer County staff continues to work with the Town of Loomis toward a plan for the future use of the Loomis Library facility, and with the Meadow Vista Municipal Advisory Council Library Subcommittee about alternative library service deliveries.
- Forwards implementation of the Criminal Justice Master Plan, completing the phased-in expansion of the South Placer Adult Correctional Facility campus by 180 beds, and building a new booking station. It also funds further exploration of a proposed new crime lab and coroner’s facility.
- Reduces anticipated spending on capital and other infrastructure projects by $31.7 million (17.2 percent) from last year as a number of maintenance and construction projects wind down, most notably the Auburn Animal Services facility and the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project to revitalize the downtown area of the North Lake Tahoe community.
The proposed budget will serve as the interim spending plan when the new fiscal year begins July 1. A final budget, reflecting adjusted revenue and expense figures from the previous fiscal year, will be presented to the board for approval in September.
