• Categories: Government

County Releases $9.1 Billion Recommended Budget Focused on Stability, Essential Services and Community Needs

• By Gig Conaughton
2 hours ago

Reading Time: 9 minutes

The County of San Diego released its recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, a spending plan totaling more than $9.1 billion. The plan reflects a 6% increase from the current year budget and aims to maintain stability while investing in essential services and responding to growing community needs.

Collaboration, Core Services and Community Needs

The values-centered proposed budget was shaped through close collaboration among community members, the Board of Supervisors and its ad hoc subcommittees. The process focused on strengthening core services and responding to public needs.

The plan augments public safety to meet the added responsibilities of Proposition 36 and supports health and safety-net services impacted by federal policy changes of H.R. 1. It expands behavioral health care and continues critical investments in homelessness response, public health and infrastructure while also maintaining vital community services like libraries and parks. The budget also dedicates resources to addressing the pollution crisis in the Tijuana River Valley. See additional highlights below.

Balancing the FY 2026-27 budget required thoughtful and strategic choices due to uncertain state and federal revenues, which account for nearly half of all the County’s funding. Growth in local revenue streams have not kept pace with the overall growth in the cost of doing business, prompting the County to leverage recalibration strategies.

To recalibrate and prepare for the challenges ahead, the proposed budget reflects new efficiencies by reducing costs, shrinking the County’s facilities footprint, and shifting staff to address evolving responsibilities while avoiding layoffs.

The recommended budget includes 20,388 staff positions, a net increase of 108. Growth is primarily driven by Consumer Protection, Proposition 36 implementation, and H.R. 1 response, and is offset by unfilled vacancies, consolidation, and attrition.

Public Participation and Key Dates

Community input played a key role in shaping the recommended budget through surveys, focus groups, emails, calls and more. Now that the recommended budget is available, the public can:

• Review the recommended budget online.
• Submit comments through 5 p.m. June 11 on Engage San Diego County. 
• Attend a virtual community meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 27.
• Visit an in-person open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 28 at the County Operations Center.
• Participate in a public budget hearing on June 1.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider and adopt the new budget June 23. Get more details about the proposed budget.

What the County Does

The County delivers programs and services that reach nearly all of the county’s 3.3 million residents across the unincorporated areas, the 18 incorporated cities and 18 federally recognized tribes.

In the unincorporated area, County government provides day-to-day services a city government typically provides, including law enforcement, roads, building permits, animal services, parks and libraries. Some cities also contract with the County for these services.

Regionwide, the County also oversees emergency preparedness, criminal prosecution and detention, food and financial assistance programs, behavioral health services, public health programs, restaurant inspections, elections and beach water monitoring.

Highlights from the New Recommended Budget

Behavioral Health

• Housing Interventions – $88 million
  Provides a full continuum of housing to ensure people are sheltered while receiving treatment and support services. This includes a Flexible Housing Pool pilot as part of the new Transitional Rent benefit that will strengthen long-term housing stability.
• Residential & Long-Term Care — $176 million
  Provides behavioral health treatment and 24-hour support in a structured, therapeutic setting for people needing a higher level of care.
• BH CONNECT Implementation —Adding $47.3 million
  Expands community-based behavioral health care through evidence-based programs that support children and adults with complex conditions.
• Substance Use Treatment for Adults — Adding $23 million
  Enhances the network of substance use services and supports, including narcotic treatment programs and a new chemical dependency recovery program.
• Behavioral Health Workforce — $15.2 million
  Supports development and retention of a skilled public behavioral health workforce through the ELEVATE Fund and training and technical assistance for small, diverse community-based organizations.
• Community Engagement and Network Support — $14.4 million
  Strengthens community engagement and supports providers through technical assistance, ensuring meaningful involvement of all 29 state‑identified stakeholder groups (BHSA) in shaping behavioral health work in the region.
• Behavioral Health Wellness Campus — Adding $12.7 million
  Supports the design and development of the new integrated campus on County-owned property that will offer a continuum of mental health and substance use treatment and supportive services. The County was awarded a $99.5 million state behavioral health grant for this project in March 2026.
• Crisis Residential Treatment — Adding $9.6 million
  Increases capacity within community-based crisis care settings that offer step down care along with diversion from unnecessary hospitalization.
• Behavioral Health Facilities — Adding $3.5 million
  Supports facility improvements to develop new Children’s Crisis Residential Care and Substance Use Recovery Treatment Services programs funded through State grant funds.
• Child & Youth Behavioral Health — Adding $2 million
  Prioritizes early intervention, outpatient, residential treatment, and crisis stabilization care to ensure children and youth have access to care.
• In-Home Outreach Teams — Adding $1.1 million
  Connects people with serious mental illness who haven’t engaged in services to care.

Environmental Sustainability

• Regional Watershed Protection & Ocean Pollution Prevention — $25.6 million
  Supports watershed protection efforts that reduce ocean pollution and promote clean beaches, healthy ecosystems and safe drinking water.
• Waste Diversion, Emissions Reduction & Closed Landfill Management — $25 million
  Integrates programs that divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with long-term monitoring and management of closed landfills to protect air and groundwater quality and strengthen regional environmental safeguards.
• Farmland Preservation, Open Space Protection & Agricultural Safeguards — $17.3 million
  Protects the region’s agricultural economy and natural landscapes by permanently preserving farmland, expanding protection of open space and enhancing efforts to detect and prevent invasive pests that threaten crops and local ecosystems.
• Climate Action Plan-related Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Investments — $15 million (includes some programs referenced in other areas of the budget) Implementation of the County’s Climate Action Plan measures that cut GHG emissions, improve air quality and strengthen long-term climate resilience.
• Groundwater Resource Management — $3.4 million
  Supports long-term groundwater management and protects regional water security.
• Green Building & Solar Energy Promotion — $1.4 million
  Promotes green building practices and accelerates solar energy adoption throughout the region.
• EV Roadmap Expansion & Fleet Electrification — $1.2 million
  Advances the County’s EV Roadmap by replacing fleet vehicles with electric vehicles and installing new charging stations at sites including Campo RMS, Julian RMS, Pine Valley Park, Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, El Monte Park and Lake Morena Park.
• Tree Planting — $500,000
  Plants 1,000 new trees to improve air quality, expand shade coverage and support healthier neighborhoods. In addition to planting trees on County properties in support of our climate action goals, our private property tree program gives unincorporated area private property owners or their designees free 15-gallon trees to plant themselves.
• Pollution Chief for Tijuana River Valley Regional Coordination
  A new Pollution Chief to lead regional collaboration, identify resources and drive long‑term solutions for the Tijuana River Valley.

Housing and Homelessness

• $93.1 million in housing resources for vulnerable residents
  Supports the development of affordable and supportive housing, rental assistance and services that help families achieve self-sufficiency. Including:
  • $16 million total, including $11.6 million prior year funds, for the Regional Homeless Assistance Program  and Inclement Weather Program.
    Provides safe, short-term housing through hotel placements and supplies hotel/motel vouchers during cold or wet weather for residents of unincorporated communities needing emergency shelter.
  • $3.4 million for the Housing our Youth Program
    Continues dedicated housing and supportive services for youth ages 18–24, connecting hundreds of young adults to stability and long-term well-being.
  • $2.8 million in prior year funds for the Shallow Rental Subsidy Program 
    Launches a new round of support for 200 senior households, offering a $500 monthly subsidy for 18 months to prevent homelessness and support housing retention.
  • $1.6 million in prior year funds to extend the LGBTQ+ Innovative Housing Program
    Continues case management, supportive services, and housing navigation for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • $1.6 million in prior year funds for the Bancroft and Magnolia Safe Parking Programs 
    Operates 43 safe parking spaces with onsite services to support individuals living in vehicles as they transition to permanent housing.
• $29.2 million for housing support and development services
  Funds sustainable housing development, affordability programs, ADU and tiny home initiatives, homelessness cleanup and assistance, inspections, and streamlined land use review.
• $600,000 for the District Attorney’s Shelter Ready app
  Enhances real time transparency by supporting an innovative tool that connects people experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter and safe parking programs.

Infrastructure

• Road Safety and Maintenance Investments — $265.9 million
  Funds enhancements such as new traffic signals, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, guardrails and supports maintenance of 2,000 miles of County roads in unincorporated communities to ensure safe, reliable travel.
• Facility Maintenance and Safety Upgrades—$73.3 million 
  Funds critical repairs, facility maintenance and major safety upgrades across County facilities, including:
• • Repairs at San Diego Central Jail, new cameras at George F. Bailey Detention Facility and East Mesa Reentry Facility, and improvements at Rock Mountain Detention Facility.
  • HVAC and roof upgrades at the County Emergency Operations Center, along with HVAC improvements at the San Marcos Offices and Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility.
  • Installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the County.
  • Maintains safe, clean park and library facilities through ongoing maintenance, repairs and weed management.
• Stormwater and Flood Prevention — $61.7 million 
  Supports storm flood prevention through maintenance of culverts, channels, and storm drains, and funds the operation and maintenance of the County’s sewer system and water districts.
• Parks & Recreation Operations—$37.7 million
  Operates 159 park facilities, 60,000 acres of parkland and 398 miles of trails for residents and visitors to enjoy.
• Ramona Sheriff Station Replacement—$34.3 million 
  Builds a new Ramona Sheriff Station to replace the existing facility constructed in the 1970s, enhancing public safety services in the region.
• Library Operations — $71.5 million
  The County Library system operates 33 branch libraries, four electric outreach vans and five automated book kiosks. This budget maintains hours of operation to ensure access to materials, programs and other resources. In 2025, the system circulated 11.79 million items, ranking among largest library systems in California, the nation and the world.
• Vista Detention Facility Planning —$3 million
  Begins planning, environmental review and design for a new Vista Detention Facility to meet long-term operational needs.
• Community Facility Investments
  Continues investments in new and upgraded facilities that serve communities, including the Casa de Oro Library — opening summer 2026 with double the space — and the Epicentre in Mira Mesa, reopening as a County operated community and teen center shaped through extensive community engagement.

Public Safety

• Firefighting Operations and Emergency Medical Services — $84.5 million
  Strengthens firefighting and emergency medical services in unincorporated areas, including added staffing for water tender trucks that deliver large volume water to fire scenes.
• County Fire Night Flying Helicopter 
  Expected to be ready to serve in FY 2026-27, it represents a major regional investment that expands critical nighttime wildfire and emergency response capability.
• Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB)— $600,000
  Supports CLERB’s expanded oversight role, including outreach, policy development, investigations and specialized medical case expertise.
• Community Care Coordination and Alternatives to Incarceration — $5.5 million
  Connects justice involved people with significant health and behavioral health needs to housing, treatment, medical care, education and employment.
• Justice Prevention, Diversion and Reentry Services — $4.5 million
  Bolsters prevention, diversion and reentry support, including the newly implemented Resource and Reentry Hub where individuals can access case management, peer support, treatment, healthcare and tailored assistance following jail, arrest or law enforcement contact.
• Expanding Community‑Led Violence Prevention in Spring Valley — $250,000
  Supports implementation of the No Shots Fired program through outreach, mentorship and wraparound services aimed at reducing gang and gun violence using a community‑driven, prevention‑focused approach.
• Gun Violence Reduction Program — $227,000 
  Supports a public health–aligned approach to reducing suicide, domestic violence and community violence through early intervention, improved crisis response and collaboration between public health, law enforcement and community partners.

Vulnerable Populations

• Eligibility and Self Sufficiency Services — $852 million
  Supports CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal and General Relief, including $23.7 million tied to the local revenue impact of federal H.R. 1 CalFresh administrative requirements and related staffing to help residents keep their benefits.
• Child and Family Well-Being — $502 million
  Invests in family strengthening, prevention and child protection services, with over $163 million dedicated to foster and adoptive families.
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) — $248.7 million
  Includes $25.2 million in new funding to support roughly 50,000 vulnerable adults and people with disabilities with home and personal care assistance.
• Health and Medical Care in Jails — $198.9 million
  Supports medical care for adults in custody and service increases related to Proposition 36.
• Health and Medical Care for Youth in Custody — $14.36 million
  Maintains and enhances health and medical care services for youth in custody.
• Animal Services — $12.2 million
  Funds enforcement, sheltering and veterinary care in unincorporated areas and adoption services countywide.
• Immigrant Legal Defense Program — $13.2 million
  Provides legal representation to detained immigrants and unaccompanied minors in removal proceedings. This represents $5.5 million in one-time funding and $7.7 in on-going funding, which is an increase of $2.7 million over last year.
• Sheriff’s Office (Proposition 36) — $15.3 million
  Includes adding 23 full-time employees to support increased jail bookings and related operational needs.
• Public Defender (Proposition 36) — $4.82 million
  Includes adding 18 full-time employees to meet higher caseloads and ensure timely, constitutionally required legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney.
• Probation (Proposition 36) — $2.97 million
  Includes adding 15 full-time employees to expand pretrial and felony supervision and support increased assessment, treatment and housing needs.
• Library Wi‑Fi Access — $381,000
  Provides free, 24/7 Wi‑Fi at County library locations.
• Library High School Program— $245,000
  Continues the program that helps adults earn their high school diplomas.
• Citizenship Training — $221,000
  Offers training through County Library to support County residents pursuing citizenship.
• Child Support Services
  Supports financial, emotional and physical wellbeing of nearly 39,900 families across the region. 

Other Highlights

• Public Health Services — $235.6 million
  Protects community health through epidemic prevention, disease control, public health centers, home visiting programs and pharmaceutical services that ensure broad access to care.
• Food Safety Inspections — $18 million
  Safeguards public health by inspecting 15,700 restaurants, food trucks and other food facilities, supporting 530 temporary events and conducting 1,200 complaint investigations and 520 foodborne illness investigations.
• District Attorney Consumer Protection Expansion — $16.3 million
  Expands countywide consumer protection activities to investigate and evaluate reports of fraudulent and unfair business practices and take appropriate action to protect the public.
• Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Unit — $2.4 million
  Establishes a new eight-person team in County Counsel focused on consumer protection, product safety, financial abuse, unfair competition, environmental justice and economic fairness, broadening efforts to protect consumers in coordination with other enforcement agencies, such as the San Diego County District Attorney and City Attorneys.
• Vector Control and Mosquito-Borne Disease Prevention — $16 million
  Monitors and treats more than 1,600 mosquito breeding sites to protect residents from West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
• Beach Water Quality Testing — $1.9 million
  Delivers same day beach water quality testing and public reporting at 45 locations, helping residents stay informed and safe.
• Ethics, Compliance & Labor Standards — $300,000
  Adds the equivalent of two full-time positions to enhance labor standards enforcement, strengthen safety in County parks, and improve contract compliance efforts.
• Mobile Veterinary Surgical Unit
  Brings spay/neuter services and basic pet wellness directly to underserved and high need communities in the unincorporated areas, improving animal health and accessibility for families.
• Arts & Culture and Film Office — $3.25 million
  Investment in arts and culture initiatives and support the implementation of a film office.

• Tags: Related: 2025-27 Recommended Budget, budget