Board adopts interim spending plan, approves budget resolutions and authorizes PIO layoff amid debate over library, roads and use of ARPA

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors on June 26 continued its public hearings on the 2025-26 recommended budget, adopted interim spending authority and a Gann-limit resolution required to proceed with spending on July 1, and approved several staffing and program adjustments after a long debate over library funding, road projects and use of one-time funds.

Dulce, the county administrative office presenter, told the board the recommended adjustments reflect work since the board's June 17 hearing and staff-level corrections to departmental entries. She said the county's net projected deficit improved from about $31.4 million at the last meeting to roughly $23.3 million as staff identified departmental savings, increased revenues and line-item corrections. Dulce described several supplemental changes: reductions in library temporary staffing that save about $60,000, adjustments to workers' compensation entries after line-by-line reviews with probation, restoration of two multiservice officer positions in the sheriff's budget, and a decision to keep four correctional officer positions unfunded but not deleted to preserve flexibility.

Dulce told the board that staff recommends adopting an interim spending plan and two resolutions '1) a spending-authority resolution (citing Government Code 29064) and 2) a Gann-limit resolution '1 to allow county operations to continue July 1 while staff completes final allocations for the fall final budget.

Board and public discussion focused heavily on a nearly $10 million state library grant that requires a $5 million local match; speakers and board members debated whether to proceed with the library expansion as planned, whether to continue the design RFP, and how to supply the local match. Library supporters said the RFP for design-build work was in legal review and urged the board to continue the procurement to preserve the grant. County and board staff noted the county has roughly $1.8 million in library impact fees and projected receipts that likely fall short of the full local match; staff proposed using $2.9 million currently set aside for a different road project (Right Road) to free funding for the library while reassessing scope and grant conditions with the state.

Several members of the public urged the board not to surrender the state library grant. Friends of the San Benito County Free Library representatives described library usage (summer programs, 333 programs in the past year and roughly 156,000 items checked out) and warned that delays could jeopardize the grant. County librarian Austin Curtis said Saturday is the library's lowest-usage day (roughly 30 visitors) and that staff'ing changes would increase weekday hours and preserve program capacity; staff proposed closing Saturdays as a temporary staffing strategy while retaining overall weekly hours.

Supervisors and department heads also raised: questions about the assessor's GIS staffing and budget entries (an identified $30,000 shortfall for the GIS manager's budget and a $30,000 part-time GIS tech funding gap), concerns about departmental transparency and historical staffing shifts into administration, and a request from several board members to explore state funding sources (disaster CDBG, HCD programs) and other options to avoid returning the state library grant.

After extended debate, the board approved the interim spending plan and associated resolutions with amendments that included: adding $60,000 to the assessor/GIS division (staff to seek $30,000 from an assessor trust account), continuing the library design RFP (but pausing construction commitments until grant clarification), and reallocating $2.9 million in set-aside Right Road funds into the county's general-road project pool. That motion passed on a 5-0 roll call.

The board took a separate vote on the CAO's recommendation to delete the public information officer (PIO) position and proceed with layoff procedures effective July 11. That motion passed 3-2. The minutes record votes as: Supervisor Kozmicke (yes), Supervisor Zanger (yes), Supervisor Sotelo (no), Supervisor Currow (no), Supervisor Velasquez (yes).

Staff emphasized the interim budget is not final: the CAO's office said staff will continue to refine revenue and expense projections, pursue state and federal grant options (including disaster CDBG and other CDBG programs), and return to the board with a final 2025-26 budget in the fall once legislative and revenue uncertainties are clearer.

Key votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call and are summarized below.