County CAO Presents Mid-Year Budget Report to the Board

County CAO Presents Mid-Year Budget Report to the Board

Tulare County Administrative Officer (CAO), Michael Spata, presented the Mid-Year Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2015/16 to the Board of Supervisors during Tuesday morning's regularly scheduled Board meeting.

“The county is in a strong financial condition,” stated Spata. “Both the reserves and the general fund balances are adequately financed.”

The Mid-Year Budget Report highlighted and listed the county’s commitment to public safety and security, economic well-being, and quality of life for Tulare County residences. It also depicted the importance of organizational performance.

Currently, the county’s General Fund budget has a balance of $29 million, with $25 million in reserves. The Board of Supervisors emphasized the need to continue efforts to increase county reserves in the coming years. 

With its conservative approach to budgeting, the county was able during mid-year, to continue efforts in increasing public safety by providing $625,000 to departmental budgets; with a bulk of those funds allocated to the Sheriff’s Department for technological improvements.

“Moving forward, the county will ensure that its budget will be able to deliver effective public service on a sustainable basis,” shared Spata.  

Tulare County is focusing its efforts to be fiscally sustainable in striving to achieve the following matters emphasized in Tuesday’s report:

  • Working to maintain current assessed values, with expectations of marginal increases;
  • Addressing marginal decrease trends in sales and use taxes within the county;
  • Refunding costs to the county’s Workers’ Compensation liabilities;
  • Addressing unfunded retirement costs;
  • Monitoring drought impacts on the local economy and to the county’s general fund. 

For the remainder of the fiscal year, Tulare County will concentrate on strategic management and economic development to deliver more efficient and effective service to its residents.

Following Tuesday’s report, Board Chairman Mike Ennis commended county staff and departments for an excellent Mid-Year Budget Report, keeping in line with Board priorities. 

Audio of the Board of Supervisors meeting is also available online and can be found at http://tulare.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2.

For more information on the Mid-Year Budget Report, please contact the County Administrative Office at (559) 636-5005.