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Calaveras supervisors adopt interim FY 2025-26 budget and approve transient-occupancy tax allocations
Summary
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors approved an interim spending plan to carry the county through September and authorized estimated transient-occupancy tax (TOT) distributions to public safety, fire districts, tourism and roads while reserving final budget decisions for September.
The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an interim fiscal 2025–26 budget to provide spending authority from July 1 through the final budget adoption in September, and authorized estimated distributions of the county's transient-occupancy tax to several recipients.
The board voted to approve the recommended budget package — excluding some pulled items that will return to the board — with the understanding that the plan is temporary and may be amended when final revenue figures are available in September. “This will give us spending authority through September until we adopt the final budget,” County CEO said during the discussion.
Board members and staff repeatedly cautioned that revenues and the state budget situation remain uncertain. Supervisor Follendorf said the interim budget is intended “to get us through from July 1 to September when we find out when our books are closed,” and emphasized the possibility of changes when final figures arrive.
The board also approved estimated FY 2025–26 distributions of the county’s TOT revenue to several entities, using current estimates to allocate funds now and plan adjustments later if necessary. The approved estimates included: $662,500 for the sheriff’s office, $662,500 for fire districts, $3,350,000 for the Calaveras Visitors Bureau (CVB), $627,184 for roads, $500,000 to the general fund, and $50,000 to the Chamber of Commerce. County staff said the amounts are estimates to be “trued up” once actual TOT receipts are known later this year.
Public safety officials and local fire chiefs urged the board to preserve funding levels for first responders. Don Young, fire chief of San Andreas Fire Protection District, told supervisors that cuts to fire funding threaten retention of young personnel and that fire districts do not have the retirement benefits other county departments have. “What we are able to pay them … is what keeps these young people on our department,” Young said.
During debate supervisors acknowledged competing pressures: preserving core services and meeting staffing needs while preparing for potential midyear state or revenue changes. The board approved the interim budget and the estimated TOT allocations; staff will return with a final budget and adjustments for board adoption in September.
Votes at a glance: - Item 5, “Approve recommended FY 2025–26 budget (interim)”: approved (board vote recorded as 3 yes, 1 no; one member explained they were “consistent” with an earlier vote). Outcome: approved. - Items 9–15, series of resolutions to adopt recommended budgets and to allocate TOT to designated recipients (sheriff, fire districts, CVB, roads, general fund, Chamber): approved as a package; board directed staff to “true up” actuals later.
Why it matters: The interim budget allows county operations to continue on July 1 and preserves flexibility to respond to final revenue and state actions. The board’s allocations of TOT — a locally-generated tourism tax — will fund public safety, road maintenance and tourism promotion in the near term, but final amounts may change once actual revenues are confirmed.
What’s next: County staff will close the prior fiscal-year books, track actual TOT receipts and other revenues, and return to the board with a final FY 2025–26 budget for adoption in September.
