Members of the community had a chance to learn about the County’s recommended budget, ask questions and provide input during the first of two community budget meetings Tuesday.
The combined virtual and in-person meeting took place at the County Operations Center.
Community members learned what services the County provides to the overall region as well as what services are provided specifically to the unincorporated areas, things that a city would typically do like public safety and road and park maintenance.
The County’s budget covers:
- Administering state programs like social services, health programs, foster care and adult protective services.
- Regional services such as adult and youth detention facilities, criminal prosecution, elections, tax assessment and collection 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.
The new recommended budget would maintain, improve and offer new services across the board.
The managers of the four departmental groups that run the County gave details in a presentation on their budget plans for Fiscal Year 2023-24. Afterward, community members took part in a question-and-answer session with the County’s finance experts, covering issues like behavioral health, homelessness, environmental justice and sustainability.
A second community budget meeting will take place at 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 18 and will be virtual only. You can register at Engage San Diego County.
To learn more about the recommended budget, you can find an executive summary on the County’s budget portal.
Public hearings will get underway in June. The first one begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 12. An evening hearing takes place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 15.
You can watch, listen and participate during Board of Supervisors meetings or you can leave eComments on the budget until 5 p.m. on June 21.
Budget deliberations and adoption are scheduled for June 27.
For details about the board meetings and to request translation services, visit the Clerk of the Board’s website or call 619-531-5434.
