Nevada County board moves to adopt FY 2026–27 budget after public hearing

Erin Mettler, the county’s deputy CEO and chief fiscal officer, presented the county’s proposed fiscal 2026–27 budget at the June 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, describing a $466.5 million spending plan that the county says is balanced and relies on 48 percent state and federal funding. Mettler told the board the proposal includes a planned $29 million use of fund balance, largely for one‑time capital projects, and projects a general increase in revenues driven by intergovernmental and miscellaneous sources.

Mettler said the draft budget keeps the county’s core services funded while using reserves and grant funding for capital needs. She highlighted planned capital spending on a behavioral health facility and a proposed sheriff’s regional training facility, and said the county has made operational adjustments — including some position eliminations and contingent staffing — to balance discretionary funding gaps.

Supervisors asked for specifics about the county’s pension strategy, the proposed use of one‑time fund balance and the jump in intergovernmental revenue. Mettler said the budget includes an additional 1 percent retirement set‑aside that amounts to about $800,000 across funds and that the county has a $6 million pension assignment in the general fund that staff plans to consider for discretionary payments in a future board action. She attributed the intergovernmental revenue increase primarily to capital spending tied to the behavioral health project.

Following the presentation and a period of questions and comments from supervisors and members of the public, the board moved and seconded an intent to adopt the proposed FY 2026–27 budget. The roll call vote on the motion was unanimous. The board scheduled final adoption for its meeting on June 16.

At the same meeting the board also considered related items that affect county finances: it approved the consolidated user fee schedule (annual CPI and phased catch‑ups for Community Development Agency fees), and adopted the sanitation district budget for the county’s sanitation district units. Tricia Tillotson, Community Development Agency director, told the board the sanitation district projects about $10.6 million in revenues and $12.1 million in expenses for the coming year, with a planned use of roughly $1.5 million of fund balance to cover near‑term needs.

Next steps: the board will reconvene June 16 to consider final adoption of the county budget for FY 2026–27.