San Mateo LAFCO adopts FY 2026–27 draft budget and work plan with 12% increase

The San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission voted to approve its draft fiscal year 2026–27 budget and work plan, adopting a proposed spending plan of $1,037,070 — an increase of $113,249 over the prior year and roughly a 12% rise that staff attributed to salary and benefit increases, shared clerk costs and planned costs for a temporary office move.

Rob Bartoli, LAFCO executive officer, described the budget package and the related work plan. He said the proposal includes a $100,000 reserve and a one-third apportionment estimated at $295,023 to be shared among the county, cities and special districts. Key items in the proposed budget are salary and benefits for two LAFCO staff positions (the executive officer and a management analyst), higher charges related to temporary office space and increased IT and county service charges.

Commissioners asked whether the salary increase was consistent with the county schedule (it is), and whether LAFCO faces capacity constraints that would be exacerbated if the unincorporated county obtains a compliant housing element and that change produced more annexation applications. Bartoli said the county does not yet have a compliant housing element but is working toward one; he added that LAFCO’s fee schedule requires applicants to cover outside-resource costs for processing annexation applications.

The commission voted by roll call to adopt the draft work plan and budget and directed staff to schedule the final public hearing for the FY 2026–27 budget on May 20, 2026.