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County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs
County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs

County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors to Hold FY 2019-2020 Budget Workshop Sessions beginning May 13

May 10, 2019

County Executive forewarns of economic downturn on the horizon; recommends limiting new expenditures and maintaining existing services going into 2020

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.-- At budget workshop sessions beginning May 13, the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors will review and discuss County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020, which begins in July. For the coming fiscal year, the County Executive is cautioning government leaders and the community that an economic downturn is on the horizon, and the County will need to shift from expanding services and adding new initiatives to focusing on maintaining current services.

“We can’t afford to be lulled into a false sense of economic security. All indications are pointing to an end to economic growth in the next couple years,” said County Executive Jeff Smith, M.D., J.D. “The current property tax revenue growth of 7% to 8% annually isn’t going to continue. As the housing market flattens and property tax revenue growth drops and levels off, we won’t be able to continue expanding services at our current rate.”

After the recession, County government services experienced several years of significant growth. The County budget grew from $4 billion to over $7 billion as the economy improved, the County infrastructure was rebuilt, the demand for safety net services increased, and the population in Santa Clara County grew to nearly two million residents.

“Our community is fortunate to have a Board of Supervisors that plans for the future and makes smart, thoughtful fiscal decisions,” Smith continued. “As we approach an economic slowdown, I am asking County departments to be prudent in planning for the future. We need to be cautious in adding new expenditures so we can both sustain our existing level of services and avoid having to cut those services going into 2020.”

The Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 proposes spending of nearly $8.1 billion. The recommended budget focuses on priority initiatives, including:

  • integration of O’Connor and St. Louise Hospitals into the County’s health system;
  • expansion of the Valley Medical Center emergency room to double its size;
  • planning for a new animal shelter;
  • continued planning for a Vietnamese service center;
  • custody and criminal justice reform and building a new jail;
  • implementation of the Voter’s Choice Act;
  • building a new HUB for former foster youth; and
  • planning for a new juvenile and adult psychiatric inpatient center.

The recommended $8.1 billion budget includes all services, operations, capital improvements and reserves. The County Executive’s recommended General Fund budget is $3.7 billion, which covers all discretionary and many mandated services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019. The budget also adds $275 million into reserves.

BUDGET WORKSHOP SESSIONS SCHEDULE

The budget workshop sessions on May 13, May 14 and May 16, at 1:30 p.m. each day are the public’s

early opportunity to engage and comment on the planned allocation of resources. In June, budget hearing

sessions will be held where the Board of Supervisors will make final decisions on the budget. The sessions

will be held in the Board Chambers, County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding Street, San Jose. The workshop sessions can be viewed online​​.

Fiscal Year 2019-20 County Executive’s Budget Message 

​FY 2019-2020 BUDGET WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 

Monday, May 13, 2019 – 1:30 p.m.

  • Budget Overview
  • Finance and Government Operations: Special Programs and Reserves, Appropriations and Contingencies, Board of Supervisors, Clerk of the Board, County Executive’s Office (including Supportive Housing, LAFCO, Risk Management), Assessor, Procurement, County Counsel, Registrar of Voters, Information Services Department and Technology Projects, County Communications, Facilities and Fleet, Capital Budget, County Library, Finance Agency (Controller-Treasurer Department, County Debt Service, County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, Department of Tax and Collections), Employee Services Agency

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 1:30 p.m.

  • Health and Hospital: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (including SB 12 and Children’s Health Initiative), Community Health Services, Public Health, Custody Health Services, Behavioral Health Services, Emergency Medical Services, Valley Health Plan
  • Public Safety and Justice: Office of the District Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, Office of Pretrial Services, Criminal Justice System-wide Costs, Office of the Sheriff, Department of Correction, Probation Department, Medical Examiner-Coroner

Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 1:30 p.m.

  • Children, Seniors and Families: Department of Child Support Services, In-Home Supportive Services, Social Services Agency
  • Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation: Department of Planning and Development, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, Roads and Airports Department (including County Sanitation District 2-3), Department of Parks and Recreation, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Los Altos Hills Fire District, South Santa Clara County Fire District

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ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the sixth largest county in California. With a $7 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and 20,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health and environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, parks, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.

Visit the County of Santa Clara at: http://www.sccgov.org 
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Media Contact: Laurel Anderson/Marina Hinestrosa, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119. ​​