Board of Supervisors adopts Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted unanimously to adopt the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget, including $2.26 billion in total expenditures representing a 7 percent increase from the 2021-22 Adopted Budget, and 4,272 full time employees, a 2.8 percent increase in staffing.

The adopted budget is largely consistent with the prior fiscal year budget and avoids any reductions to core county services.

“This budget makes major investments in county priorities, without overcommitting to ongoing programs.” said James Gore, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “It’s a responsible budget that optimizes available resources with targeted investments in strategic goals and accounts for the uncertainty of both outside funding and future economic stability.”

Highlights of Board of Supervisors’ allocations:

• More than $27 million investment in infrastructure, including:
  • $1.4 million for renovation at Maxwell Farms Regional Park;
  • $5 million to support construction of the Behavioral Health Housing Unit at the Main Adult Detention Facility; 
  • $10 million for infrastructure projects that are to be determined;
  • $6.5 million for groundwater sustainability and water security;
  • $5 million to support continued implementation of the County’s Strategic Plan, including $1 million of ongoing funding.
• $5.5 million for emergency preparedness and disaster response, including $3 million for programs serving vulnerable communities and $1.5 million to update the 9-1-1 dispatch system.
• $1.5 million over three years to support Health Action 2.0, to develop an equity-focused Agenda for Action in response to the Portrait of Sonoma County Update 2021.
• $5.5 million to increase General Fund reserves to ensure adequate resources in the event of disaster or economic downturn.
• $2.8 million for completion of Sonoma County’s General Plan update.
• $3.3 million to support programs preventing and addressing homelessness, including $829,000 of ongoing funding to support three new positions as part of the board’s reorganization of homeless services, as well as one-time funding to support continued operations at the Guerneville shelter and Los Guilicos Village, and to support a contract with Legal Aid to help individuals and families at risk of losing their housing.
• $895,000 for food programs, including $695,000 to support non-profits providing food distribution and $200,000 for a needs assessment study. Should year-end fund balance be available in the General Fund above what was programmed at budget hearings, up to $1 million will be provided to implement the study. This is in addition to $4.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded by the Board of Supervisors to community food distribution programs on May 24, 2022.
• $375,000 to support organizations in administration of a workforce housing program and to help Sonoma County become a pro-housing county.
• $250,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma and Marin to reopen the Roseland Teen Club.
• $200,000 for the Secure Families collaborative to provide support for undocumented residents to help obtain legal status and ensure essential family support services. 

Funding also included in the recommended budget:

• $126.2 million for Road Maintenance and Operations, including ongoing General Fund contributions and PG&E settlement funds allocated for repair and replacement of fire-damaged infrastructure.
• $9.8 million in support of Fire Services and consolidations to improve services in Sonoma County.
• $7.9 million for Emergency Management and Emergency Response, including support for wildfire prevention and vegetation management.
• $224.8 million for Behavioral Health services.
• $80.5 million allocated to Public Health, including ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $2 million in funding for the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach, which is set at 1 percent of the Sheriff’s budget.

As part of Sonoma County’s commitment to transparency, open government, and citizen engagement, an online view of the county’s annual operating budget is available here: 
https://sonomacounty.budget.socrata.com/   

This interactive website allows the public to click on various charts and lists to drill down for more detailed information on the county’s spending plan.

All County of Sonoma budget reports and materials are available here: 
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/budget-and-operations/budget-reports

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Media Contact: 
Dan Virkstis, Communications Specialist 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403