Listen to this note:
The recommended budget of San Mateo County for fiscal year 2024-25 seeks to ensure the county can provide safety net services while adding staff to develop affordable housing and boost emergency preparedness.
Thus, this Tuesday, June 25, County Executive Mike Callagy will present the $4.2 billion spending plan to the Board of Supervisors. The meeting will take place at 9:00 a.m. with in-person and virtual participation available.
The budget, Callagy said, addresses priorities set by the Board while balancing fiscal constraints due to state and other funding uncertainties.
The recommended budget is $601 million less than the previous year, primarily due to the completion of several capital projects and the end of pandemic-era state and federal grants, the county said in a statement.
"At its core, this is an ambitious budget that is part of a plan to improve the quality of life for all San Mateo County residents," Callagy said. “Based on public meetings with the Board of Supervisors and community input, this budget makes smart investments in housing, emergency preparedness, mental health care, children, families and seniors and much more.”
Address priorities
The recommended budget adds five positions to manage affordable housing development and funds two positions to launch the new Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which will combat wage theft and other abuses of low-wage workers.
The budget ensures the county can meet its obligation as a safety-net service provider while continuing to place a high priority on affordable housing and boost emergency services.
Other highlights include specific investments that address threats from wildfires, sea level rise and other risks. These include adding five positions to the Department of Emergency Management, as well as allocating $21.5 million to replace the Pescadero Fire Station and $5.2 million for the Fire Truck Replacement Fund.
With budget negotiations underway in Sacramento, the county budget could increase or decrease in the coming months, the city council noted.
Local budget officials warn that the fiscal picture could look very different in September, when the Board of Supervisors will consider a final budget with revisions for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
In addition to the Recommended Budget, the Board plans to vote on a proposal to allocate an additional $9.1 million in local Measure K funds to programs serving children, families and seniors.
The above includes funding for community organizations that provide support services for foster youth, community and school family resource centers, services for LGBTQ+ residents, culturally appropriate outreach and community connections for older adults, among other services.
Staff also recommends allocating an additional $4 million in Measure K funds (a voter-approved half-cent sales tax) to fill gaps created by a shortage of state funding for existing County programs serving children, families and elderly people.
You may be interested in: Reallocation of funds from Redwood City's budget for this year to be discussed
