San Luis Obispo County board adopts FY26–27 recommended budget, defers additional DA staffing to strategic review

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors tentatively adopted the county's FY26–27 recommended budget on June 8, approving a plan that totals about $1.2 billion across all funds and recommends a general fund of roughly $829.9 million.

Chief Executive Officer Matt Pontes said the recommended plan reflects a "deliberate and disciplined approach" to managing a $1.2 billion organization amid constrained revenue growth and increasing operational costs. Assistant Chief Executive Officer Lisa Howe told the board the package balances ongoing demands while relying on targeted one‑time investments and reserve designations to avoid new long‑term general‑fund commitments.

The board's action includes roughly $10.8 million in recommended one‑time add‑backs and about $1.4 million of new or expanded augmentations. Howe said the recommended governmental funds total is a little over $1 billion, with the all‑funds budget at about $1.2 billion and a modest overall increase from the prior year. Major expenditure drivers include public safety, which receives ongoing strategic emphasis, and health and human services, which comprises the single largest share of mandated spending.

The approved package also preserves a contingency and maintains reserves close to board policy; Howe said general‑fund contingency is being increased to meet the board's 5% guideline and presented a plan that draws on tax‑loss reserves for one‑time projects including ERP work and a proposed property‑tax system replacement.

Separately, District Attorney Dan Dow had asked the board to restore or add five positions in his office — a deputy district attorney, a paralegal, a victim‑witness advocate, an administrative assistant and an elder‑abuse vertical prosecutor — arguing the office has seen rising caseloads and a dramatic increase in digital evidence. Dow said the office reviewed 11,900 criminal referrals last year and that per‑trial deputy caseloads have risen toward about 600 cases per attorney in the most recent year. He also emphasized victim‑services workload, saying advocates now handle roughly 823 cases each in the most recent year.

Dow proposed funding three positions with the Prop 172 reserve and one deputy with opioid settlement funds; he asked the board to consider using general‑fund contingency for the remaining position. In deliberations, some supervisors urged a targeted, one‑time funding approach; others said the county should weigh competing public‑safety priorities, including fully staffing the planned Nipomo Sheriff Substation and achieving 3‑person staffing at county fire stations.

Supervisor Pechock moved to allocate opioid settlement funds, Prop 172 reserves and general‑fund contingency to fund the DA's request; the motion failed. The board then approved the executive office's recommended budget as presented, with the board directing staff to return with a staffing plan for the Nipomo Sheriff Substation and to fold Prop 172 and opioid settlement considerations into the county's broader strategic planning process. The clerk recorded an abstention on final adoption by one supervisor.

The board set a tentative schedule to finish the budget hearing on June 9 and to return June 16 to consider final adoption and any technical adjustments. Pontes said staff will continue to explore sustainable funding options and report back as part of the strategic planning and follow‑up budgeting work.

What happens next: The board's tentative approval moves the recommended budget forward; final legal adoption is expected to be considered at the board's June 16 meeting and may be revisited again in September if state budget actions require changes.