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Board adopts targeted service and salary adjustments as county prepares for deeper budget cuts
Summary
Facing worsening revenue projections and federal funding risks, the Board of Supervisors approved a package of countywide service and supply reductions along with amendments to the county salary ordinance to implement some object-1 staffing changes.
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 30 adopted staff recommendations to implement a set of countywide service-and-supply reductions that were included in the FY 2025–26 budget, and it ratified an accompanying salary-ordinance amendment to implement specific personnel changes.
County administration explained that the actions are part of a multiyear effort to structure a balanced budget amid falling revenues, pressure on health-system fiscal performance and anticipated federal cuts. The items adopted on Sept. 30 convert some previously identified object-2 (services and supplies) placeholders into specific object-1 personnel adjustments in a small number of departments where staff recommended a swap would be administratively efficient and legally permissible.
Supervisors praised staff for compiling extensive department-by-department information on mandated versus discretionary work and for recommending an ongoing process for annual referral review and prioritization. Board members and the county executive reiterated that deeper cuts may be necessary in coming months unless state or federal revenues change and urged departments to keep searching for efficiencies and alternative revenue sources.
The board approved the package unanimously. Staff said the actions taken Sept. 30 are an early step in a longer budget process and that more extensive proposals will return to the board in coming weeks and months.
