San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy on Wednesday released a final budget proposal for San Mateo that focuses on long-term goals, such as ending homelessness, promoting an equity-based COVID-19 economic recovery; and creating modern, efficient public buildings.
The proposal includes $134.4 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to help communities most affected by the pandemic.
In turn, it proposes $185.7 million to boost the county's efforts to effectively end homelessness by increasing supportive services to prevent homelessness and building permanent affordable homes.
"This budget proposal reflects what the community has clearly wanted: solutions to some of our most persistent challenges," Callagy said.
"That means a laser-like focus on providing real assistance to individuals and families in innovative ways and treating individuals and families with the dignity and respect they deserve as we create permanent solutions to the housing crisis," he added.
Callagy will present the "September Revisions" budget proposal to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, September 27.
The Board's consideration is the latest step in a months-long process that began with the approval of the FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget.
This final budget recommendation, the city council noted, reflects changes to the recommended budget based on new revenue assumptions and policy and program changes.
The 2022-23 plan calls for an increase of $791.2 million from the Recommended Budget to $4.2 billion. This is largely due to unanticipated growth in property taxes and sales taxes, along with the infusion of federal and state funds to assist with COVID-19 relief, the county said.
"Despite unanticipated growth in FY 2021-22, the county continues to take a calculated and conservative approach to budgeting for FY 2022-23," Callagy wrote in a message to the Board accompanying the final budget recommendations.
Taking a long-term approach, Callagy's final budget proposal includes an additional $158 million for capital projects. This fully funds four high-priority projects currently underway or in the final planning stages:
- Cordilleras Mental Health Center, a 121-bed treatment center that will replace an existing facility built as a tuberculosis ward during the Truman Administration.
- The Navigation Center, a 240-bed shelter to provide temporary, safe living spaces for homeless individuals and couples with services designed to help clients find and maintain stable housing.
- County Office Building 3 - San Mateo County Civic Center, a five-story administrative center under construction in downtown Redwood City.
- San Mateo County Health Campus, renovations to current facilities and replacement of obsolete facilities.
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