Trinity County, CA
10/01/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2024 11:26
Trinity County Board of Supervisors Adopts Final Budget
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Trinity County Board of Supervisors Adopts Final Budget
Community Collaboration Results in Balanced Budget and Uninterrupted Services
Weaverville, CA (OCTOBER 01, 2024) -Earlier today, the Trinity County Board of Supervisors adopted the Final Budget for Fiscal Year 2024/2025, which includes significant measures to ensure the continued delivery of essential services while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The approved $144.7M budget relies on significant reductions in general fund departments, as well as the generous support of both the Friends of the Library and Trinity Animal Shelter Auxiliary (TASA).
Posted on Tue, 10/01/2024 - 10:17am
Supervisor Ric Leutwyler, Chair of the Trinity County Board of Supervisors, expressed gratitude for the community's collaboration during challenging fiscal discussions, and underscored the Board's commitment to balancing the county's priorities with responsible budget management.
"We are working to balance challenging budget constraints, while also recognizing the importance of maintaining essential services for our residents," said Leutwyler. "I am proud to be part of a community that joins together to seek solutions that allow the county to continue to provide a certain level of service, while being mindful of our very real financial obligations."Key Components of the Adopted Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget Include:
- Adoption of a balanced $144.7M budget, which includes $580K of general fund contingency. No more one-time bandage fixes to shield the deficit spending trends of the past five plus fiscal years.
- Funding for minimal staffing levels in the new jail, as required by the Board of State and Community Corrections.
- Mandatory minimum loan payments on the Umpqua Loan (refunding of the 2005 Certificates of Participation associated with legacy hospital debt). Additionally, the approved budget allocates $150,000 towards the remaining $7.7M ($3M advance from the General Fund and $4.7M deficit cash) of hospital debt, separate from the Umpqua Loan.
- Continuing to fund 100 percent of the county Annual Determined Contribution (ADC) for our Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) obligation, a sound long term financial choice.
- Funding for the county financial software platform, which will lead to future efficiencies.
- Funding for the ongoing major General Plan update project.
- $40.7M Health and Human Services budget which provides critical support programs to a large percent of Trinity County residents
The Board approved the proposed budget level of funding for both the Trinity County Library and the Trinity County Animal Shelter. The cost of these operations will be offset in collaboration with the Friends of the Library and TASA, both of whom stepped up to present proposed temporary solutions to the funding gap. These partnerships will allow services to continue, although at reduced levels in some circumstances, as county staff and residents continue to refine additional revenue alternatives for future consideration.
The Board has also directed staff to explore further details on potential revenue sources for Board and residents' consideration in the future, and looks forward to continuing its mission to serve the needs of Trinity County while preparing for future challenges.
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