Government

Community Gives Input on County Budget

Video by Suzanne Bartole
Reading Time: < 1 minute

How does the County budget work? Where does the money come from and what does it pay for?

The public had a chance to get answers to those questions and give their input on how they’d like to spend taxpayer dollars during a Community Budget Forum Wednesday in Kearny Mesa.

County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher kicked off the meeting and Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer made some comments before a presentation took place on what goes into creating the budget. Afterward community members took part in a question and answer session with the County’s finance experts.

The County’s responsibilities cover three areas:

  • Administering state programs like social service assistance, health programs, foster care and adult protective services.
  • Regional services such as adult and youth detention facilities, criminal prosecution, elections, tax assessment and collection, air quality and beach water monitoring, and food and restaurant inspections.
  • Municipal services in non-city communities like law enforcement, libraries, parks, roads and land use zoning.

Information on the current budget is available on the County’s budget portal.

The recommended County budget for fiscal year 2020-21 will be released to the public on May 4. There will be a period for the public to review it and comment, followed by hearings at Board of Supervisors meetings at the County Administration Center. Hearings begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 8. An evening hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10. Budget deliberations and adoption are scheduled for June 23.

Tracy DeFore is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact