Alameda County supervisors adopt $4.6 billion FY 2024–25 budget, approve one-time shelter and community grants

Alameda County’s Board of Supervisors on June 27 adopted the county’s final fiscal year 2024–25 budget, approving a $4.6 billion spending plan that county leaders said balances priorities for public safety, health care and social services.

County Administrator Susan Marnishi told the board the final budget covers nearly 10,500 full-time-equivalent positions and includes a $4.0 billion general fund. The plan closes a $68,000,000 shortfall through a mix of spending reductions, revenue increases and the use of prior-year savings, she said: “The final budget for all funds totals $4,600,000,000 and provides funding for almost 10,500 full time equivalent positions.”

The budget includes targeted one-time allocations the board directed staff to incorporate. Those items include a one-time shelter grant program of up to $3,500,000 from ARPA funding to maintain emergency shelter and interim housing beds, $2,100,000 in one-time restorations for community-based organizations supported by the Area Agency on Aging, and a $5,000,000 one-time augmentation to the Enhancing Vision 2026 initiative for FY24–25.

Marnishi summarized major countywide investments in the plan: about $1,700,000,000 in salaries and benefits; more than $850,000,000 for direct client services through roughly 270 community-based providers; approximately $100,000,000 for Alameda Health System; nearly $750,000,000 for behavioral health services (including $200,000,000 from Mental Health Services Act programs); and more than $830,000,000 for children’s services.

Supervisors who spoke before the vote praised the budget process and singled out priorities preserved in the final plan. President Miley highlighted the board’s regional role and noted a separate Metropolitan Transportation Commission action to place a $20,000,000 bond measure on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, he said would position Alameda County to receive an estimated $2,000,000,000 for affordable housing production and tenant protections. Supervisor Marquez said she will advocate for relief for St. Rose Hospital in Sacramento and thanked staff for preserving funding for shelters and aging services. Supervisor Tam, Supervisor Halbert and others also commended staff and the budget chair for the collaborative process.

Board Chair and budget committee chair Supervisor Keith Carson made the motion to adopt the final budget and the board voted unanimously in favor. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from each member; the motion passed 5–0. The board authorized the county administrator and the auditor-controller to make any necessary final technical adjustments to the adopted budget.

Marnishi and board members also noted fiscal risks beyond the county’s control, warning that state and federal budget developments could affect future funding for health and social services. The adopted five-year capital improvement plan identifies approximately $3,500,000,000 in project costs and flags roughly $600,000,000 in unfunded deferred maintenance.

The board’s action puts the adopted budget into effect as the county prepares to begin the new fiscal year next week; the county administrator and auditor-controller will complete any final technical adjustments and implement the directives the board approved.