Tuolumne County staff lays out multiyear budget outlook; recommends 15% cuts to non‑public‑safety departments

Tuolumne County officials on Jan. 14 told the Board of Supervisors that rising mandated costs, uncertain sales‑tax growth and the planned end of a federal SAFER grant will leave the county with multi‑million‑dollar shortfalls unless the board approves cuts or new revenue sources.

The county administrator, Tracy Riggs, and Auditor‑Controller Donnie McNair presented a detailed, slide‑driven multiyear outlook that showed the county’s adopted 2024–25 budget of about $302.7 million and about $124.9 million in general‑fund appropriations. The presentation emphasized that only roughly $67 million of that total is discretionary general revenue available to cover net county costs.

Why it matters: County leaders said the largest near‑term fiscal stress point is the scheduled end of the federal SAFER firefighter grant that has been funding staffing in Tuolumne County Fire. Director‑level staff told the board the change could produce a shortfall in the fire fund measured in the low single‑millions of dollars unless alternative funding is found or service levels are reduced.

Tracy Riggs, the county administrator, said…