Board unanimously approves Sacramento Employment and Training Agency $137 million FY25-26 budget

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23 voted unanimously to approve the Sacramento Employment and Training Agency’s (SETA) operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26, a grant-funded budget of just under $137 million.

SETA Executive Director Anita Maldonado outlined the agency’s programs, including Head Start and Early Head Start services (more than 4,000 children countywide), 13 American Job Centers that serve about 30,000 customers annually, refugee support services, and community services funded through Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. The agency is governed jointly by city and county appointees; Supervisors Desmond and Kennedy serve on the SETA governing board for the county.

SETA Fiscal Chief Mario Masak presented budget details: approximately $137 million total, 100% grant-funded, a $5 million decrease from the prior year. Children and family services account for about 73% of the budget and workforce development roughly 27%. By source, Head Start grants comprise about 85% of the children-and-family-services funding; the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supplies about 44% of workforce development funding, with refugee services making up another 35% of that portion.

Masak said salaries and fringe benefits represent about 44% of total expenditures; subrecipient and client obligations are about 42% of the budget. For children-and-family services, salaries/fringe are 49% and pass-through delegates/partners are 36%.

At the board meeting Supervisor Hume asked detailed procurement and contract-term questions about a separate consent item for organic diversion agreements (see related coverage), and Supervisor Rodriguez sought more detail on SETA outcomes. SETA managers said they would provide performance reports: Michelle O’Camm, workforce manager, said refugee employment outcomes over recent years show entered employment rates of roughly 62–65% and an average wage just under $19 per hour for those placed, with ongoing services for clients not placed by program year end.

Maldonado and staff also warned of potential federal funding risks: flat Head Start funding effectively decreases buying power, and proposed federal changes to eligibility or work requirements could affect participation and funding for workforce and CSBG programs. SETA staff said they will continue advocacy, including recent trips to Congress to press for continued Head Start funding.

Supervisor Desmond moved approval of the SETA budget; the motion passed unanimously with Supervisors Desmond, Rodriguez, Hume and Serna voting yes and Supervisor Kennedy absent. SETA staff invited board members to tour Head Start centers and announced a grand opening of a new early learning center at Marisol Village on Sept. 24.