Supervisors pass $8.63 billion budget, in uptick from current year’s spending ...Middle East

By a unanimous vote, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved its $8.63 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The revised budget was increased by $18.3 million, with most of that going toward public safety.

The overall budget represents a $104 million increase from last year’s spending plan, or 1.2%, a county official told supervisors.

Released May 1, the original recommended budget of $8.62 billion was “designed to protect core services for residents in the region,” while continuing “investments in issues important to San Diegans,” according to a county statement.

Around half of the county’s funds come from the state and federal government for specific purposes, including healthcare and welfare services.

The rest comes from property taxes and fees for services, among other sources.

Highlights in new budget include:

The adopted budget takes effect July 1.

Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer described the budget as “a huge endeavor” during what has been a difficult year so far, due in part to possible federal budget cuts.

“We still have some work to do, as we look ahead,” said Lawson-Remer, who is acting board chair.  Since January, the board has been down one member, following the departure of Nora Vargas from the District 1 seat.

Lawson-Remer’s colleague Jim Desmond said the budget “was a long time coming,” and added he liked most of it, save for the Immigrant Legal Defense Program labor standards and enforcement, the latter being a state responsibility.

Desmond said he appreciated the large increase for public safety measures, over $100 million for behavioral health services and money for a 16-bed psychiatric facility at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside.

Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe said she appreciated public feedback on the new budget, but was concerned over future funding for a housing trust fund and partnerships for the Medi-Cal program.

While the county has put its best foot forward on the new budget, “we must continue to take steps to, as I keep saying, hope for the best, but plan for the worst,” she added.

But potential funding gaps loom for the county. She and Lawson-Remer warned in a board letter that just one portion of the federal funding bill currently under review by Congress, covering Housing and Urban Development department spending, would result in a loss of $20 million for the county.

During public comment, many spoke in favor of the new budget.

Noah Yee Yick, of the San Diego Center for Policy Initiatives, thanked supervisors for making “people-first” investments, including for immigrant legal defense and adult housing services.

Housing and health care are not luxuries, “if the federal administration walks away, San Diego County must step in,” Yick added.

The leader of Father Joe’s Villages credited supervisors for taking “meaningful steps” towards addressing homelessness in the region with more money for behavioral health.

“We applaud the Board of Supervisors for supporting efforts to explore funding for the Innovative Housing Trust Fund, for recognizing the importance of partnership in CalAIM and Medi-Cal Transformation,” said Deacon Jim Vargas. “These initiatives are critical to creating sustainable, long-term solutions that address both the root causes and impacts of homelessness in our region.”

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