Madera County adopts $578.4 million proposed budget for 2025–26; board OKs special revenue and special district budgets

The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Monday, June 9, to adopt the countyoperating budget and the related special revenue and special districts budgets for fiscal year 202526 2026.

The board adopted a proposed operating budget of $578,436,287, presented by Jay Varney, the county chief administrative officer, and further detailed by Joel Begay of the County Administrative Office. Varney told the board that the figure "reflects an increase of just a touch over $47,000,000 across all operating funds for the county." Begay and CAO staff warned the board the proposal still shows an operating deficit in the coming year and described a range of cost pressures and one-time and flexible funding options.

The adopted package covers the general fund, special revenue funds and special districts, and includes departmental budgets and staffing recommendations. Joel Begay said staff projects general revenues of just over $108,000,000 for the fiscal year, "an increase of $5,100,000 or 4.6% over the current year estimated revenues," but cautioned that growth in sales and property tax revenues is uncertain. The CAO team recommended funding 11,754.75 positions countywide, a net decrease of 22.25 funded positions; staff said 41 positions were unfunded and that the unfunded roles are currently vacant.

Why it matters: county officials said the county still faces a tight near-term fiscal picture. Begay described the countyprojects as showing an operating deficit of about $1.2 million in the proposed budget and estimated a year-end fund balance of $319,000 if conservative salary-savings assumptions hold. He also noted the county holds $4.1 million in Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funding (LATCF), a flexible, federal ARPA-derived grant the CAO said could be used to offset deficits if the board chooses to apply it.

Key details

- Adopted operating budget: $578,436,287 (Jay Varney). Varney described the total and the increase over the prior year. - Projected county revenues: roughly $108 million for fiscal 202526 2026, an increase Begay described as "4.6% over the current year estimated revenues." - Staffing: 11,754.75 funded positions recommended; net decrease of 22.25 funded positions; 41 positions unfunded (staff said those are vacant and no layoffs will be triggered). - Discretionary spending: staff reported approximately 73% of discretionary resources remain allocated to public safety functions, down 1 percentage point from the prior year. - Deficit trajectory: current-year deficit projection reduced from an originally adopted $6.8 million to roughly $2.9 million; the proposed 202526 2026 budget shows a $1.2 million operating deficit. Begay said conservative salary-savings assumptions (1% planned) would result in a projected year-end shortfall of about $748,000. - Retirement and health costs: staff called out a roughly $1.1 million increase in retiree health premiums partly tied to federal changes that increased Medicare-related costs. - LATCF: Begay explained LATCF is a flexible ARPA-authorized allocation (the presentation cited roughly $4.1 million available) that "can be used for any governmental purpose other than lobbying" and that staff would present options for board consideration.

Board action and public comment

The board opened public comment during the hearings on the proposed budgets and special districts. Staff left the public hearing open during the day and reconvened at 1 p.m. for the special districts presentation; after discussion and public comment the board moved to adopt the budget resolution. The motion to approve the fiscal budget was called and the clerk recorded a roll-call vote: Supervisor Rogers, yes; Supervisor Poythrose, yes; Supervisor Womack, yes; Supervisor McCauley, yes; Chair Gonzales, yes. The clerk announced the motion passed 5-0.

What remains next

Staff told the board they will return with additional materials and recommendations on use of LATCF funds and on hiring and vacancy strategies. Begay said staff will continue quarterly revenue projections and work with departments on additional efficiencies and potential reorganizations; the board did not direct layoffs and staff emphasized unfunded positions are currently vacant.

Ending note: The board adopted the budgets on a 5-0 vote; staff and supervisors repeatedly urged continued attention to revenue trends and targeted cost reductions during the coming fiscal year.