Topic
Recent budget coverage from The Sidekick network, including local decisions, public meetings, and civic updates.
The Assembly budget subcommittee heard a proposal to make a temporary cap on business tax credits permanent, with the administration projecting hundreds of millions in new revenue and industry groups warning it could hurt innovation.
The May 20 agenda includes a public hearing on planning fees that would restore the schedule in stages, with annual CPI adjustments.
At an Assembly budget hearing, the Employment Development Department also asked for $20 million more for EDD Next document management work.
The council adopted a new fee schedule for 2026-27 that raises most building fees 2.9% and changes many permit charges to a valuation-based model.
Lawmakers pressed the Secretary of State’s office on rising security costs and whether federal election-security money could cover voter-facing work, but the budget subcommittee took no action.
A budget subcommittee hearing exposed a policy dispute over whether to fund the Bay Delta program now or wait until the updated water-quality plan is formally adopted.
Finance officials advanced a maximum $125 million climate-bond contribution for the 161-acre shoreline acquisition, but lawmakers raised equity concerns over whether Proposition 4 money should go to park-poor communities instead.
A May 20 public hearing would put the city’s planning fee schedule back on a three-year path to full rates, starting with a 40% discount this summer.
A May 19 committee packet says Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health’s LPS conservatee population climbed sharply over the past year and a half, adding context to a slate of contract amendments and budget actions.
A May 19 Health and Welfare Committee agenda would raise the county’s Compassion Pathways Behavioral Health contract ceiling to $696,600 and increase adopted behavioral health appropriations by $496,600, if approved.
The committee packet says the Agricultural Commissioner wants to raise its FY 2025-26 services-and-supplies budget by $52,258, funded by State Aid for Agriculture revenue that came in above budget.
A joint Assembly oversight hearing raised questions about whether California’s crisis line system is fully meeting its promise, while DHCS disclosed more than 74,000 988 contacts in March and said unanswered contacts go to out-of-state backup centers.
Staff said the city is considering a 2026 ballot renewal for Measure G, along with an advisory question aimed at boosting road funding.
City staff said Fortuna faces a structural general fund deficit and more than $1.9 million in lost purchasing power, while polling showed the tax proposal could clear a majority with more information but remains vulnerable to opposition messaging.
The council unanimously chose an option that opens Fortuna Transit to the general public, adds a full-time supervisor and moves ahead with RideCo scheduling and call-center support.
Council members approved a USDA Rural Development application after staff said several patrol cars have more than 100,000 miles and two can no longer be repaired.
The council voted 5-0 to move a local sales tax proposal onto the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot and asked staff to return with the ballot question and follow-up legislation.
The city’s May 6 meeting approved a Transportation Development Act claim to SACOG and outlined how the money could support Nevada Street, N Street, Larkin Road and Broadway work.
AB 108 cleared the Assembly on May 7, authorizing one-time emergency grants for hospitals at risk of closing.
Assembly budget lawmakers heard competing proposals for scaling wildfire mitigation, including whether California should keep relying on large subsidies or shift toward smaller grants, loans and insurance-linked incentives.
The council authorized a long-delayed Transportation Development Act claim to SACOG, while staff said about $2.87 million in local transportation balances remain unclaimed there.
Supervisors set aside county funds to help meet the local match for a 16-bed residential treatment project.
The April 21 Health and Welfare Committee agenda would raise IHSS appropriations, extend Language Line Services and advance Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter agreements tied to Community Care Expansion funding.
Supervisors unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with Wheatland and the Olivehurst Public Utility District that authorizes a county loan ceiling for the South County Infrastructure Project.