The County of Santa Clara has presented its financial plans for the upcoming year, which include a dedicated Children's Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, totaling $1.33 billion. This budget represents a 2.8% increase from the previous year and underscores the county's commitment to the welfare of children. Despite fiscal challenges, supervisors continue to prioritize child safety and well-being. Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, an early champion of the initiative, was quoted, "Leaving our children behind in tough times is simply not an option," she said in the County of Santa Clara official release. "When children and their families are stable, health and safe from the very beginning, everything that follows improves – for them, for their communities, and for our local economy."
However, the financial landscape was significantly impacted following the enactment of H.R. 1 by Congress on July 4, with the legislation making deep cuts to federal healthcare and food assistance programs. The county executive highlighted the strain that these federal changes impose on local communities, especially on the nearly 30% of children in Santa Clara County who depend on programs such as Medi-Cal and CalFresh. County Executive James R. Williams expressed concern, as stated in the County of Santa Clara's official release, "Nearly one in three children in Santa Clara County rely on Medi-Cal or CalFresh to access healthcare and food, and these are the same programs facing unprecedented cuts under this federal administration."
The 2025-26 Children's Budget is categorized into four major outcomes: Every Child Safe, Every Child Healthy, Every Child Successful in Learning, and Every Child Successful in Life. Specific growth was observed in the Every Child Safe category, with funding channeled towards programs such as CalWORKs and child welfare, which aim to protect the most vulnerable children in the county.
Moreover, the budget outlines significant investments directed towards areas including food safety in schools and inspections of facilities such as swimming pools to minimize risks to students. While these programs are essential, the repercussions of federal cutbacks loom over them, threatening the support systems for a sizable portion of the county's youth. According to the County Social Services Agency's estimate, approximately 38,400 children and youth risk losing access to crucial services due to H.R. 1, a concerning figure for the community's future.
