To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Public Hearing
SUBJECT:
title
Public Hearing on Proposed County Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Open the public hearing;
2. Receive reports from staff;
3. Receive testimony from public;
4. Continue the hearing to 5:30 p.m.;
5. Receive updated reports from staff (if required);
6. Receive additional testimony from public;
7. Close the public hearing;
8. Deliberate on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 proposed spending plan;
9. Give direction to staff regarding any desired modifications to the proposed budget; and
10. Set June 25 as the date to adopt the budget.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
All county funds
DISCUSSION:
Annually, the County Administrative Office (CAO) presents a proposed budget to the Board of Supervisors. The adoption of an annual budget is one of the most significant policy decisions of the Board. As such, it requires substantial preparation and benefits markedly from public input.
California Government Code Sections 29000 through 30200, known as the County Budget Act, as applied through rules issued by the Office of the State Controller, provides the legal requirements pertaining to the content of the proposed budget, adoption procedures, and dates by which actions must be taken. The CAO, as designated by the Board, is responsible for completing the budget process within the confines of state code.
Locally, the budget process is lengthy and includes the below steps:
• On Feb. 26, 2019, as part of the Mid-Year Budget report, your Board set parameters for the development of the FY 2019-20 budget for General Fund allocations and the budget calendar. The parameters included direction to set departmental allocations from the General Fund to increase by 3 percent based on current year General Fund allocations. This allocation will allow for a balanced budget and does require departments to absorb any additional cost increases. In addition, your Board directed staff to accept Additional Requests for General Fund Appropriation (additional funding requests) in the FY 2019-20 budget with a preference given to one-time requests and those that focus on the Cannabis Excise Tax ballot language.
• Community Budget Roadshows were held on March 13, 20 and 27, 2019, with the assistance from Access Humboldt and a facilitator, County of Humboldt elected officials, department heads and representatives from various departments. The purpose of the roadshows were to present the community with the Strategic Framework goals, priorities and objectives, and provide the citizens’ of Humboldt County an opportunity to learn about current issues facing the community and share experiences and suggestions on how to make improvements. In addition, community members unable to attend the workshops had the opportunity to participate and express their opinions online via Open Humboldt. Additional information on the Community Budget Roadshow can be found on the county’s website at <https://humboldtgov.org/1994/Community-Budget-Meetings>.
• Preparation of the proposed budget began on Feb. 27, 2019, when CAO staff presented to departments the parameters for development of their FY 2019-20 budget requests. Departments were asked to submit their requests to the CAO by April 2, 2019. The CAO reviewed the budget and Additional Requests for General Fund Appropriation (funding requests) in April and May, 2019.
• On May 6 and 13, 2019 departments made presentations to your Board on their core services and budget requests.
• Presentation of the proposed budget was before your Board on June 4.
• Public hearings on the proposed budget are before your Board today.
• The final budget is anticipated to be adopted on June 25, 2019.
At today’s hearings, it is recommended that you accept additional public comment and staff input, and provide any direction you wish staff to pursue prior to the final opportunity for public input and budget adoption, scheduled for June 25.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total proposed county budget is $450,885,139. Proposed General Fund expenditures are $162,184,568 including a Contingency Reserve of $2,039,212. The Contingency Reserve represents 1.3 percent of General Fund revenues and is below the Contingency Reserve policy updated by your Board on Feb. 6, 2018. Per policy, contingencies should be proposed at $3,046,070 (2 percent of $152,303,506).
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by inviting civic engagement and awareness of available services and managing resources to ensure sustainability.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All county departments and agencies, as well as several community organizations that receive county funding, are affected.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Defer the public hearing. This alternative is not recommended as public hearings require advanced notice, both legally and in order to secure maximum public input. In addition, deferring the public hearing would delay adoption of the final budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
I. Humboldt County FY 2019-20 Proposed Budget (copy on file with the Clerk of the Board and available online at <http://www.humboldtgov.org/247/Budget>)
II. Additional General Fund Appropriation Requests for FY 2019-20
III. Measure Z Funding Request
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: 2/26/19, 6/4/19
File No.: 19-269, 19-820