Despite state and local funding sources shrinking, San Mateo County unanimously approved a $4.2 billion budget this week for the upcoming fiscal year.
A bulk of the funding will go to public safety, social services and health services.
These include funds for health and mental health care, jobs programs, early learning, food security and investments in ending homelessness.
This year’s budget is $601 million less than the previous year.
“(The reduced budget) is due mainly to the completion of several capital projects and the end of pandemic-era and other state and federal grants,” the county said in a statement.
Local officials have the difficult task of balancing maintaining crucial public services while facing a budget deficit of $10 million.
According to San Mateo’s budget summary, the county is facing numerous economic challenges, including higher inflation, slower spending, limited housing stock, high commercial vacancy rates and a slowdown in new construction.
Among the county’s strategies to shore up funding for critical programs amid the deficit is spending funds from Measure K, a local sales tax.
But some officials cautioned against overusing the local sales tax so that funds don’t dry up.
“I’m not interested in asking taxpayers for more money,” Mueller said. “Our taxpayers are feeling it (economic struggles) now more than ever.”
After San Mateo County approved a $30 base wage for employees earlier this month, County Executive Mike Callagy said his office will do its best to spend resources carefully.
“I’m trying to thread a needle so we don’t have to have layoffs,” Callagy said.
There will be a final budget revision coming up in September. County staff cautioned the fiscal situation could look drastically different by then.
Separately, supervisors approved using $9.1 million from local Measure K funds to support programs serving children, families and seniors.
This funding includes grants to local organizations that enhance mobility options for older adults, child abuse prevention, and offer educational opportunities for at-risk teens.
At the same meeting, San Mateo County Supervisors approved funding for a new urgent care facility option in Half Moon Bay.
Earlier this month, San Mateo County granted $40 million to seven housing projects.
