County Budget Talks Begin Today

Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors will spend the entire week going over a $5.5 billion budget proposal for the coming fiscal year.

At the hearings, which run through Friday, supervisors will review County Executive Jeff Smith's 2015-16 spending plan. Smith recommended a general fund budget of $2.8 billion to cover discretionary and mandated services for the fiscal year starting July 1.

Though a strong local economy has driven up tax revenue for local government, demand for county services continues to increase, Smith cautioned in his budget message. He said the county needs to focus on building administrative infrastructure, upgrading the jail system and addressing homelessness and the lack of affordable housing.

Here's a link to the 780-page budget document. And listed below are the hearings scheduled for this week, all of which take place at the County Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St., in San Jose.

Health and Hospital, 1:30pm Monday
Covers Public Health, Behavioral Health (formerly Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services departments), Custody Health Services, Community Health Services, Valley Health Plan, Valley Medical Center including Health SB12 and Children’s Health Initiative.

Finance and Government Operations, 1:30pm Tuesday
Includes Special Programs and Reserves, Appropriations for Contingencies, Board of Supervisors, Clerk of the Board, County Executive’s Office and LAFCO, Assessor, Measure B Transportation Improvement Program, Procurement, County Counsel, Registrar of Voters, Information Services Department, County Communications, Facilities and Fleet, Capital Budget, County Library, Employee Services Agency, Finance Agency.

Children, Seniors and Families, also on Tuesday
Department of Child Support Services, In Home Supportive Services, Social Services Agency.

Public Safety and Justice, 1:30pm Wednesday
Office of the District Attorney, Office of the Public Defender, Office of Pretrial Services, Criminal Justice System-wide Costs, Office of the Sheriff, Medical Examiner-Coroner,  Department of Correction, Probation Department.

Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation, also on Wednesday
Planning and Development, Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, Parks and Recreation Department, Roads and Airports Department, County Fire Department, Los Altos Hills Fire District, South Santa Clara County Fire District

Summary and wrap up, 9am Friday

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