Logo courtesy of Butte County

OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - Butte County’s $1.08 billion recommended budget for 2026‑27 shows shrinking revenue, deep staffing cuts, and rising pressure on health and safety services. Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Meegan Jessee told supervisors June 23 the plan is 0.6% smaller than last year and reflects completed projects and reduced grant funding.

Jessee said the General Fund Operating Budget drops to $288.4 million, down $17.9 million from last year. The county maintains a $16 million general reserve and an 11.19% contingency provision, meeting the Board’s policy target of 12% of prior year operating costs. She said the budget assumes a beginning General Fund balance of $32.6 million, with any difference adjusting contingencies and, if needed, the reserve.

State and federal sources make up 62% of governmental funds revenue. Jessee said only 20% of total revenue is discretionary, even with Measure H. Property tax remains the county’s largest general purpose revenue source at $92.2 million, followed by local sales tax and public safety sales tax. She said the Board retains full discretion over only one fifth of all incoming dollars.

The most significant impact of the budget is staffing. Jessee said the plan eliminates a net 76.5 positions across all departments, 67 regular positions and 30.5 limited term roles. The Department of Employment and Social Services faces the largest reduction, cutting 37 positions this year after eliminating 66 last year.

Tiffany Rowe, director of the Department of Employment and Social Services, said the department has been hit by deep staffing losses tied to an $8.4 million reduction in expected federal and state allocations and rising operating costs.

She said the cuts are already affecting the county’s ability to meet mandated timelines and maintain service levels.

“In two years, the department has suffered over 100 positions being eliminated,” she said.

“There’s no good news here. We cannot continue to do more with less.”

Public Health loses four positions and expects increased demand for county funded indigent care. Behavioral Health faces rising costs tied to housing and restoration programs for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial. Schedule A adjustments increase Behavioral Health’s budget by $3.6 million, largely for Phoenix Place housing, restoration programs, technology upgrades, and facility repairs.

Probation eliminates six positions, including two tied to reduced state funding for pretrial services. Chief Probation Officer Melissa Romero said the county’s pretrial program began in 2021, 22 and expanded when responsibility for screening tools shifted from the Sheriff’s Office to Probation.

She said reduced state allocations now force the department to scale back those services.

The Clerk Recorder’s Office continues to struggle under a statewide fee structure that has not been updated since 2010, leaving the department dependent on fees that no longer cover its mandated workload. County Clerk Recorder and Registrar of Voters Pete Finley said the outdated model has pushed the office to operate without General Fund support even as costs rise.

“This fee for service model is failing in the State of California,” he said.

Despite the cuts elsewhere, officials said public safety operations remain more stable. Sheriff Kory Honea said the Sheriff’s Office maintains 333 allocated positions and restores designated area deputy assignments after years of staffing shortages.

The District Attorney’s Office remains at 103 positions and continues onboarding experienced prosecutors, supported in part by Measure H revenue. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the office has returned to staffing levels not seen in nearly a decade.

“For the first time since March of 2017 we are back up to 28 deputy district attorneys,” he said.

Fire operations benefit from the state’s assumption of year-round staffing at three former Amador stations, Forest Ranch, Robinson Mill and Jarbo Gap, allowing the county to restore seven administrative and prevention positions. The department also receives funding for new engines, protective gear, and volunteer wellness programs.

Capital and maintenance needs remain substantial. The county lists $97.2 million in ongoing capital projects, including the new probation building scheduled to break ground in July, the Carpenter Ridge communications tower, and multiple fire station upgrades. Schedule A adjustments add $6.89 million in appropriations and $5.68 million in capital authority, rebudgeting incomplete projects and incorporating new grants.

Transportation funding tightens. Jessee said the Road Fund will lose $1.65 million due to lower-than-expected state transportation revenue, delaying the SB1 rubberized chip seal program until additional funding can be secured. Transit funding also drops by $603,834 following updated state revenue estimates.

The Community Corrections Partnership budget of $16.3 million remains intact, supporting the Sheriff’s Alternative Custody Supervision program, Probation’s supervision and housing partnerships, Behavioral Health assessments and diversion programs, and victim services in the District Attorney’s Office.

Jessee said staff will prepare the final budget resolution for adoption on July 28. The county will adjust contingencies and reserves once the actual General Fund balance becomes available in the fall. Departments facing the deepest cuts will continue working with Human Resources to place displaced employees elsewhere when possible.