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Community Services Agency announces program‑budget fixes after fund‑balance review; board approves staff recommendations
Summary
CSA reported a fund‑balance review that revealed unavailable revenue and a $5.2 million gap; staff proposed vacancy, operating and revenue adjustments that the board approved to stabilize program services while staff develops further proposals.
The Community Services Agency briefed the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 30 on fiscal pressures in its program services and support budget and the board approved staff recommendations to shore up near‑term finances.
Findings from the review: CSA managers said a detailed accounting review from fiscal 2020–2025 revealed roughly $18.2 million recorded as revenue that is not available for discretionary use, leaving an actual usable fund balance of roughly $3.2 million heading into fiscal 2026. The agency identified a $5.2 million gap between the adopted budget and available county general fund support.
Staff recommendations and board directions: To reduce the gap, CSA proposed four strategies the board approved: maintaining 78.4 vacant positions (a planned vacancy profile the department had set), cutting approximately $1.72 million in operating costs, recognizing an additional $1.37 million in certain realignment revenues, and canceling a planned child welfare visitation center (project cost savings and avoided fund‑balance draw). Combined, those actions address about $2.9 million of the $5.2 million gap; CSA will return with additional options to close the remaining $2.3 million at the first quarter financial update.
Why it matters: CSA funds administration of many mandated programs — CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi‑Cal, IHSS and child welfare services — and staffing/fund adjustments have direct implications for program capacity. Staff noted outstanding uncertainties tied to pending state actions (including provisions of HR 1) and the need to factor upcoming negotiated cost‑of‑living adjustments into future budgets.
Board action: The board approved staff recommendations unanimously and directed CSA to report back with updated analysis and recommendations at first quarter.
