Orange County supervisors hear CEO27s $6.2 billion recommended budget; final adoption set for June 27

Orange County27s Board of Supervisors on June 13 opened a public hearing on the County Executive Office27s recommended $6.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2017-18, received public comment and detailed program presentations, and took nonbinding straw votes across departmental budgets ahead of a final adoption vote scheduled for June 27.

Chairwoman Steele opened the hearing and explained the purpose of the day: public comments, presentations by the CEO, CFO and budget director, program-by-program review, and straw votes intended to guide staff as they prepare the final budget. CEO Frank Kim told the board the recommended plan is balanced and focuses on targeted investments while living within the county27s existing revenue stream: "we're very pleased to provide your board with a balanced budget for fiscal year 17, 18," he said.

County Chief Financial Officer Michelle Aguirre told the board the budget faces a near-term pressure from a $50 million payment due to the state next year and that the CEO27s recommendations use a mix of ongoing revenue and largely one-time sources for augmentations. She said the county expects to set aside part of property-tax revenue growth to meet the state payment rather than draw reserves, leaving a projected year-end fund balance smaller than in prior years.

Budget Director Lisa Bohinj Johnson presented the appropriation breakdown by program and revenue type, noting dedicated revenues account for much of the $6.2 billion total and that general-purpose revenue (net county cost) is driven primarily by property taxes. She also reviewed reserve targets and the strategic financial plan that underlies multi-year assumptions.

Board members pressed departments for additional backup on specific items — notably crime-lab staffing needs and technical specifications for an IT infrastructure request tied to body-worn camera data — and staff committed to provide those materials before the final budget vote. Chairwoman Steele reminded the board that today27s votes are advisory and that the formal adoption will occur at the June 27 meeting.

The board recessed several times to take straw votes by program and asked staff to return with written proposals or specifications where supervisors requested additional detail. The hearing closed with the county27s next steps: reconcile to the state budget in the first-quarter report and present an updated strategic financial plan in September.