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Yolo County midyear budget: higher electrical bills from offline solar arrays prompt contingency requests
Summary
County staff reported quarterly electricity costs have increased about $400,000 while several county solar arrays remain offline; the Board received the 2024–25 midyear monitor, adopted budget amendments and approved changes to the equipment list.
County budget staff on Feb. 25 told the Yolo County Board of Supervisors that a series of nonfunctional county solar arrays has produced substantial unanticipated electricity costs and recommended drawing on contingency funds to cover shortfalls through the fiscal year.
Chief Budget Official Laura Liddicott told the board that initial analysis shows about $400,000 in increased quarterly electrical costs while multiple solar arrays have been offline for months; staff recommended using approximately $340,000 from general fund contingency to backfill countywide electricity costs and $152,000 from public safety contingency to cover electricity at the juvenile detention facility.
Why it matters: The county is projecting several revenue streams to end the year below budget — including public safety sales tax and realignment — while unexpected electricity costs are eroding departments’ operating budgets. The recommended contingency transfers are intended to avoid immediate budget stops, especially at the juvenile detention facility.
Key details from the midyear monitor: - Major revenues such as property tax and realignment are projected to finish near or below budget. Public-safety sales tax (Prop. 172) is projected to be almost 5% below budget and public-safety realignment lower than anticipated. - The county is seeing approximately $400,000 quarterly increases in electrical bills while arrays remain down, Liddicott said. She recommended use of roughly $340,000 from general fund contingency for countywide electricity needs and about $152,000 from public safety contingency to cover probation’s juvenile facility electricity through June 30. - Staff cautioned additional contingency requests could be needed at third-quarter monitoring to cover sheriff and district attorney electricity charges for the remainder of the year if arrays remain offline.
Liddicott said one array (Cottonwood) has come back online, but other arrays remain offline pending contracts and vendor identification. She told the board staff are monitoring both the operational and fiscal implications and will return with updates at third-quarter monitoring.
After discussion, the board voted to receive the 2024–25 midyear monitoring report, adopt the attached budget resolution to amend current-year revenues and appropriations as described in staff materials, and approve changes to the authorized equipment list.
Board action: Motion to approve the staff recommendations was made by Supervisor Frerichs and seconded by Supervisor Barajas; the board voted to adopt the midyear report and related budget resolution.
Next steps: Staff said they will continue to monitor revenue streams and the status of the county solar arrays, return with third-quarter monitoring that may include additional contingency requests, and pursue contracts or vendor solutions to restore offline arrays.
