Board adopts FY 2025–26 recommended county budget emphasizing reserves, cautious investments

The Napa County Board of Supervisors on June 24 adopted the county’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2025–26, a roughly $967 million plan the county described as structurally balanced and focused on preserving reserves while making targeted investments.

County executive staff presented the plan as maintaining strong reserve levels, healthy fund balances and funding capital improvements while sustaining core services. Assistant staff emphasized the difficulty of assembling a large, multidepartment budget and thanked department leaders and the public for participation in the process.

Supervisors and department staff discussed several details at the hearing. Housing staff clarified a $75,000 transfer from a 1% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) special revenue fund (fund 2400) to a proximity‑loan program in fund 2080; county counsel reviewed the measure language and advised that the transfer may be used for feasibility work to expand a loan program paired with childcare incentives but cautioned about using Measure I funds directly for childcare business support. The board asked staff to include clearer narrative and attachments in the final adopted budget.

Supervisor comments commended staff for a conservative approach that avoided broad staffing increases and prioritized holding reserves through an uncertain economic period. The board adopted the budget and a corrected personnel table by unanimous vote.

Ending: Staff said the adopted budget will be posted with the changes and will serve as the county’s financial plan for FY 2025–26. Supervisors asked staff to continue outreach on budget details and to return revised adopted materials for public availability.