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Kern County supervisors warned HR 1 could cut benefits and raise county costs; board receives budget update and approves position changes
Summary
Board heard a first‑quarter budget report showing a $4.5 billion budget and staff warned federal HR 1 could reduce CalFresh and Medi‑Cal eligibility and shift costs to counties; the board unanimously received the report and approved limited position changes.
Kern County supervisors on Nov. 18 received a first‑quarter budget status report that warned the newly enacted federal law HR 1 could reduce benefits for low‑income residents and shift administrative and benefit‑cost burdens to county government.
Budget Director Alex Alba told the Board of Supervisors the county’s adopted FY 2025–26 budget totals $4.5 billion in expenditures and includes a $68.9 million (5.4%) increase in salary and benefits and a net addition of one position. Alba said first‑quarter adjustments brought before the board totaled $633,000 and that general‑fund discretionary revenue is budgeted at about $729.4 million.
The Human Services presentation focused on how HR 1’s changes to SNAP (CalFresh) and Medicaid (Medi‑Cal) could affect Kern County. “We have approximately 207,000 people currently on…
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