County supervisor warns of funding risk, pledges support for Rohnert Park programs

Sonoma County Supervisor Linda Hopkins briefed the Rohnert Park City Council on the county’s fiscal outlook and pending actions that could affect local services.

Hopkins said county staff expect the Department of Health Services to recommend full funding for Rohnert Park’s mobile support program, which she said should reassure the council about that program’s near‑term funding. At the same time she warned that federal and state developments could reduce the county’s roughly $300 million a year in ongoing federal funding and that the state faces a potential $12 billion shortfall, creating budget uncertainty for health and human services programs.

To mitigate impacts, Hopkins said the county may hold a second round of budget hearings this fall after federal decisions are clearer. She described formation of an ad hoc group of supervisors to work with cities and nonprofit partners on a second Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Measure O dollars to prioritize urgent needs; she said the county intends to set aside roughly $500,000 for a targeted NOFA to support nonprofits assisting LGBTQ and undocumented communities and for mental‑health supports if the recommendation is adopted by the CEO and Board.

Hopkins invited questions and urged city officials to continue coordinating with the county on priorities and to share concerns about return‑to‑source of local tax dollars. Council members thanked her for the briefing and asked staff to track Measure O timing and funding sources ahead of the city’s June budget work.