Inyo County presents $169.2 million CAO recommended budget; board approves limited changes and directs staff on several projects

The Inyo County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing Sept. 9 on the County Administrator's recommended fiscal year 2025–26 budget and directed staff to finalize the budget for formal adoption on Sept. 23 after making several board‑approved adjustments.

County Administrator Nate Greenberg presented the CAO recommended budget, reporting total revenue of $151,892,016 and proposed expenses of $169,223,776 across all funds. "The general fund comprises the majority of the budget," Greenberg said, noting about $97 million in general fund expenses and projected general fund revenue just under $93 million, with the recommended budget using a $4.5 million target from fund balance to close the gap. Auditor certification delivered that fund balance is $5,013,493, giving the board modest additional flexibility.

Nut graf: The hearing included detailed discussions about staffing costs, pension and retiree health liabilities, special projects (including an ingress‑egress study for a high‑priority corridor), and how to allocate modest excess fund balance. After questions and public testimony, the board voted to adopt the CAO recommended budget with written changes: convert two part‑time senior program cooks to full time, direct $2,500 in district‑level transient occupancy tax (TOT) funds to a local project, and move $150,000 into the county's OPEB (post‑employment benefits) trust;…