The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors last week voted 4-1 to approve the county budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
The county budget totals $1.87 billion projecting $491.3 million in general fund revenue and plans to use $37.6 million in fund balance to avoid cuts to services. A general fund balance of $143.4 million is projected for the end of the fiscal year in June 2026, down from $181 million this year.
Some county departments saw increases in spending, such as the $228.5 million for the Sheriff’s Department. That allocation includes replacing 51 vehicles.
Stanislaus County Chief Executive Officer Jody L. Hayes said while the counties face a certain level of uncertainty with the state and federal budgets, Stanislaus County has a priority of “maintaining our existing services with minimal adjustments, ensuring stability during what can be an uncertain time.”
The state of California is facing a budget deficit of about $12 billion which can cause significant revenue implications for the 58 counties.
Hayes indicated that the county may have to pull back on programs and projects if grant funding is not realized but said the General Fund “is not directly at risk.”
“Funding shifts may create additional pressures that we acknowledge here on these locally managed services.”
Hayes stated his confidence in the budget, noting that “our fiscal policies and reserves provide a strong foundation that allows us to navigate these challenges prudently.”
Supervisor Vito Chiesa supported the budget.
“I feel really, really good about this budget – and I’m talking about trying to keep us healthy, like financially healthy,” said Chiesa.
Supervisor Terry Withrow said he feels “very comfortable as to where we’re landing.”
District 5 Supervisor Channce Condit of Ceres cast the lone no vote, citing his concerns about what he called the county’s top-heavy administrative structure and the need to prioritize investments in front-line workers who deliver essential services to residents.
“Our county government is too top-heavy, and we need to take a serious look at how we are allocating resources,” said Condit in a press release. “To improve the efficiency and responsiveness of county operations, we must start by supporting the staff who is doing the work on the ground — not just expanding layers of management. There’s an imbalance.”
While the budget maintains current staffing levels, Condit believes greater scrutiny is needed on how staff is distributed within departments.
“This vote wasn’t about rejecting services; it was about demanding smarter, more efficient governance,” Condit added. “We owe it to the taxpayers to build a leaner, more effective government that puts frontline workers first. This will improve deliverables for our county residents.”
