Earlier this week, the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget, positioning the county on a trajectory of balanced growth and careful economic foresight. As discussed on June 25th, the board has laid out a comprehensive budget that prepares for the anticipated population growth and its corresponding demands on county services.
In a statement obtained by Placer County, Board Chair Suzanne Jones expressed gratitude towards the county staff "for their hard work and dedication in developing this budget." Ensuring a steady economic outlook, the new budget is pegged at $1,223,744,843, marking a 4.2% dip from the previous year but maintaining a robust focus on capital projects totaling $52.2 million.
The caution applied to the county's finances is not to be understated, with a 10% contingency reserve upheld, echoing the county's staunch financial policy to weather unpredictable fiscal years. Alongside this, new positions have been added to the county's employment roll, totaling 36 in the last year to manage increased workloads from the growth spurt, particularly in the urbanizing locales of West Placer.
According to County Executive Officer Daniel Chatigny, who told Placer County, "Our Getting Growth Right initiatives are a top priority," the budget reflects a dedication to maintain quality service levels amid a wave of incoming development. Notably, the fiscal layout also ensures operational expenses are managed by new revenues, eschewing reliance on one-time funding sources to support ongoing operations.
The new budget apportions around 50% of its operating funds to sustain Health and Human Services and public safety initiatives, an investment that includes services provided through the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office, as well as fire protection contracted with CAL FIRE. Moreover, $142 million is earmarked for Capital and Road Funds to support the maintenance of county infrastructure, from county facilities to roads and bridges, emphasizing a connection to public service access.
Residents curious about the specifics of fiscal allocations can get a summarized understanding from the county's Budget-at-a-Glance webpage, offering a brief yet insightful peek into what their fiscal year, beginning July 1, looks like.
