Votes at a glance: Mendocino supervisors approve a set of budget and program directions, reaffirm fire funding formula and set cannabis code interpretation

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors recorded several formal actions April 8 in Willits. Below are the board’s formal votes and short descriptions of the outcomes and next steps.

1) Consent calendar (Item 3) — Approved, unanimous The board approved the consent calendar by roll call (unanimous). The consent calendar included multiple administrative approvals and grants. Supervisor Blazey Mulherin clarified on the record that a $2,168,000 airport apron item in the consent calendar represented grant funds (not County general fund) and that the local match was about $5,705. The board recorded the approval with a roll call vote.

2) Measure AJ (cannabis tax) — Direction to staff to provide detailed accounting and allocation plan — Approved, unanimous Motion summary: Supervisors directed staff to present historic accounting and a plan for allocating Measure AJ cannabis business tax revenues to the four categories laid out in the advisory measure (cannabis regulation/enforcement, roads, mental health services, fire & emergency medical services). Staff are to return with specific accounting of revenues to date and options for moving forward. The motion passed unanimously.

3) Budget directive — Staff to return with a Scenario A balanced budget and options to close a $17M shortfall — Approved, unanimous Motion summary: The board directed staff to draft a baseline FY 2025–26 budget that does not rely on one‑time funds (Scenario A) and to return with concrete options to close a projected $17,000,000 deficit, including quantified hiring freeze impacts, review of budgeted but vacant positions, targeted services/supplies cuts and, if necessary, workforce reductions. Staff will present dollarized tradeoffs for each option. The motion passed on roll call.

4) Prop 172 public safety sales tax — Reaffirm established formula for distribution to fire agencies — Approved, unanimous Motion summary: The board reaffirmed its commitment to the previously agreed distribution of the county’s share of Proposition 172 public safety sales tax to local fire agencies: 5.46% of annual Proposition 172 revenues plus a fixed $87,521, allocated to Mendocino County’s 22 fire agencies per the formula the county has historically used. Staff were directed to apply the 2017‑era formula to FY 2025‑26 allocations and to document the distribution for transparency. Roll call recorded unanimous support.

5) Roads: $1,000,000 pilot / one‑time allocation to county road crews (Option 3) — Approved, 4–1 Motion summary: The board directed staff to incorporate a $1,000,000 one‑time pilot (Option 3) into the FY 2025‑26 budget proposal to fund targeted pavement repairs and hot‑mix treatments distributed to county road yards to address localized failures. The motion directed use of one‑time funds (including potential carryforward/reserve sources) to fund the pilot; it did not appropriate the money immediately but asked staff to model it in the budget packet. The motion passed with a 4–1 vote (Supervisor John Haschak voted no).

6) Cannabis cultivation limits — Affirmation of existing county code interpretation (two different CCBL types allowed; up to 22,000 sq ft gross where applicable; up to 10,000 sq ft for flowering on a single license type) — Approved, 3–2 Motion summary: The board voted to affirm support for the county’s existing code interpretation that permits two different CCBL license types on eligible parcels (for example a 10,000 sq ft mature canopy plus a 12,000 sq ft nursery footprint, consistent with the county’s earlier environmental analysis), and to retain the current plain‑text reading while staff proposals for legislative changes can be developed through public process. The motion passed 3–2; Supervisors Madeline Klein and John Haschak voted no. Staff were directed to return with ordinance amendment options if the board wants to adopt different language; the board also asked staff to evaluate grandfathering/transition options for applicants affected during the review period.

7) Fort Bragg Library expansion — MOU / ad‑hoc — Approved (direction) Motion summary: The board accepted an update on the proposed Fort Bragg Branch Library expansion and appointed an ad‑hoc board subgroup (Supervisors Norvell and Williams) to work with county library staff and the Friends of the Fort Bragg Library on drafting a memorandum of understanding that would document responsibilities and conditions for property transfer and future facility operations; the board reiterated that the county would not obligate general‑fund monies without future board action.

Why this roundup matters: Together these decisions address three near‑term fiscal priorities (the FY 2025–26 structural gap, a small one‑time roads pilot, and the mechanics for distribution of targeted revenue streams such as Prop 172 and Measure AJ), clarify the county’s present legal posture on cannabis cultivation limits, and advance a community facility project for Fort Bragg. Several decisions were unanimous; others were split along policy lines, indicating issues that may be revisited in ordinance or budget hearings.

Verbatim item examples (short): - “Please correct this oversight and recommit to supporting fire agencies,” public commenter Emily Castillo said in urging enforcement of the historic Prop 172 allocation formula. - “We can’t keep balancing the budget year after year with one‑time funds,” Supervisor Ted Williams said when urging a clear baseline for recurring costs.

Actions summary (selected): - Consent calendar approved (unanimous roll call) - Staff directed to present Measure AJ accounting and allocation options (unanimous) - Staff directed to produce Scenario A budget and options to close $17M deficit (unanimous) - Prop 172 fire funding formula reaffirmed (unanimous) - $1,000,000 one‑time roads pilot added to staff budget options (4–1) - Board affirmed current cannabis code interpretation; asked staff to return with ordinance amendment options (3–2) - Ad‑hoc (Supervisors Norvell, Williams) named to work on Fort Bragg Library MOU (direction)

What’s next: Staff will return with detailed budget scenarios, an AJ accounting and allocation report, and options related to cannabis code language if the board requests amendments. Several items will appear again in future budget workshops and regular agenda items.