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Stanislaus County adopts $1.89 billion 2026 budget, warns of long‑term pressure on reserves
Summary
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.89 billion 2026 adopted budget that preserves core services while drawing on reserves and fund balance; county staff warned the long‑range model projects possible reserve depletion by 2030 unless spending or revenue trends change.
Stanislaus County supervisors voted unanimously Sept. 30 to adopt the county’s 2026 spending plan, officials said, approving a $1,890,000,000 adopted budget that county staff described as a “transitional” plan focused on preserving core services.
Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes opened the public hearing and framed the budget around slowing revenue growth and a deliberate drawdown of fund balance to cover one‑time needs, workforce investments and legally required costs. “This budget before you today is clearly a transitional budget,” Hayes said during the presentation, adding that the county is shifting from a growth mode into a preservation mode.
Why it matters: County staff and supervisors emphasized that discretionary revenues are flattening and that the county has used reserves strategically in recent years. The CEO’s long‑range model shows that, under certain spending scenarios and current revenue assumptions, the general fund could face substantial pressure by 2030 — including the risk of depleting available fund balance if no course corrections are made.
Key details: The adopted budget supports 4,904 allocated positions and funds public safety, health and human services, public works and other county priorities. Staff recommended using $7.7 million in appropriations for contingencies in the adopted budget (a four‑fifths vote is required to allocate contingency funds for some items). The plan also recognizes $162.2 million in departmental fund balance and a net county cost of $374.8 million in general fund contributions.
Staff outlined several adjustments included in the adopted plan: a $16.4 million increase to recognize match funding for Public Works capital projects (including local match for Measure L and SB 1 road maintenance), an established Public Works contingency of $6.6 million for emergency road and bridge repairs, and targeted position changes across departments to align staffing with available funding. The budget also includes funding for two one‑person patchers to improve road maintenance response, funded as a three‑year package.
Board discussion: Supervisors voiced cautious support, noting concerns about declining revenue trends, rising retirement and liability expenses, and the county’s growing reliance on reserves. Supervisor Vito described the fiscal picture as alarming but supported the budget, urging early, incremental course corrections to avoid deeper cuts later. Supervisor Chiesa and others emphasized preserving core services while seeking efficiencies.
Next steps and deadlines: Staff were authorized to finalize technical adjustments and prepare the adopted budget document for submission to the State Controller by Dec. 1, 2025. The board directed that staff continue to monitor the long‑range model and return with midyear and quarterly updates should conditions require course corrections.
Votes at a glance: The motion to accept the 2026 adopted budget and related staff recommendations passed unanimously.
The public hearing on the budget closed after no members of the public spoke on the item.
