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Alameda County opens FY2026–27 budget hearings on $6.7 billion proposal
Summary
County Administrator Susan Bernicchi and staff presented a $6.7 billion proposed FY2026–27 budget that closes a $185 million gap and relies on $91.4 million in additional savings; the board opened a public hearing, heard an economic and state-budget outlook, and recessed to continue hearings next week.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors opened public hearings on the proposed fiscal year 2026–27 budget on June 18, hearing a presentation from County Administrator Susan Bernicchi and staff that laid out a $6.7 billion proposal and the schedule for next week’s detailed deliberations.
“Today, we are formally opening your budget hearings on the fiscal year 2026–27 proposed budget,” Bernicchi told the board, saying the proposal supports about 10,500 full‑time equivalent positions and represents a 9.3% increase over the current year’s approved budget. She said the budget is balanced and closes a $185,000,000 funding gap, with roughly half of that gap addressed through reduced employer retirement costs.
Bernicchi and staff described a remaining net funding gap of $91,400,000 after pension savings, to be closed by a mix of one‑time and ongoing expense reductions and revenue adjustments developed with department heads. The county administrator framed the proposal as designed to preserve essential services while managing long‑term pension liabilities and other cost pressures.
Melanie Octondido, presenting the economic outlook, told supervisors that local labor conditions and housing market dynamics shaped revenue assumptions: Alameda County’s April unemployment rate stood at 4.1%, and the county’s median home price for May was $1,400,000, driven by low inventory.
Staff also summarized the recently finalized state budget, noting approximately $5,000,000,000 in additional ongoing revenue and $900,000,000 for homelessness programs, while warning of a projected $9.7 billion state structural gap over the coming years that will affect local planning. The presentation noted that proposed Medi‑Cal reductions were delayed to July 1, 2027, giving the county additional time to plan.
After the presentation, a board member moved to open the public hearing and the clerk called the roll. Supervisors Marquez, Tam and Fortunato Bass, and President Halbert voted “aye”; Supervisor Miley was excused. The board recessed after public comment and scheduled continued hearings for June 22 (1:45 p.m.) with deliberations and final adoption planned the following week.
Board members asked staff to provide department‑level examples of efficiency efforts and vacancy savings to support identification of possible cost reductions during next week’s sessions. Bernicchi and budget staff committed to providing additional detail and to bring forward program‑level presentations and recommendations when hearings resume.
The board recessed the special meeting to continue budget hearings and deliberations on the schedule provided by staff.
