The Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office has released the County’s 2019-2020 Recommended Final Budget for budget period 2018-2019/2019-2020 – Year 2. The Recommended Final Budget will serve as the final spending plan for Stanislaus County operations.
A Public Hearing before the Board of Supervisors for the consideration and adoption of the 2019-2020 Recommended Final Budget for Budget Period 2018-2019/2019-2020 – Year 2 has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The meeting will take place in the basement Board Chambers at 1010 10th St., Modesto.
Initially developed as the 2019-2020 Spending Plan and updated with the 2019-2020 Adopted Proposed Budget, the operational plan for year two of the two-year cycle is fully set with the 2019-2020 Recommended Final Budget. This two-year budget model streamlines processes and promotes a reflection on performance while maintaining the County’s long-standing history of transparent fiscal responsibility. The focus on developing, monitoring and achieving carefully considered objectives is the cornerstone in the County’s two-year budget design. With an eye directed toward outcomes, departments have been encouraged to ask the question, “Is anyone better off?” The response to that question will be shared in the upcoming Annual Report aligned with the Final Budget report, which will guide decisions on how best to allocate valuable County resources to provide quality services efficiently and effectively.
As a balanced operational plan, the County budget is developed using the six Board Priorities: Supporting Strong and Safe Neighborhoods, Supporting Community Health, Developing a Healthy Economy, Promoting First-Rate Learning, Delivering Efficient Public Services and Delivering Community Infrastructure. The Recommended Final Budget totals $1.4 billion in appropriations and reflects an increase of approximately 3 percent for all funds as compared to the 2018-2019 Adopted Final Budget and a $17.9 million increase, 1.3 percent above the Adopted Proposed Budget for 2019-2020.
Of significance in year two is the transfer of $11.6 million in Performance Visioning Carry-Over Savings (PVCS). PVCS has been implemented as part of the two-year budget model, this program allows General Fund departments to transfer savings realized in year one to year two through the Final Budget process when supported by a positive financial forecast, as identified in the 2018-2019 Midyear Financial Report.
Budget Year 2019-2020 is balanced with $1.3 billion in estimated revenue and the use of $64.6 million in fund balance/retained earnings, a $3.9 million reduction in the dependence on County reserves when compared to last year’s reliance on one-time savings.
The General Fund totals $377.6 million in the 2019-2020 Recommended Final Budget, representing an increase of $21 million or 5.9 percent over the total from the 2018-2019 Adopted Final Budget. Discretionary Revenue assumes 7 percent growth in property tax revenue, and stable sales tax revenue. The General Fund is balanced with the use of $20.3 million in fund balance for a total Net County Cost of $276.3 million.
The Stanislaus County 2019-2020 Recommended Final Budget is available for public review on the County’s website at www.stancounty.com/budget/ and may also be viewed at the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Office at 1010 10th St., Suite 6500, in Modesto. It is also available at local library branches throughout the county.
