How to painlessly balance a $68 million budget shortfall

Four shelters in Alameda County could face imminent closure; Housing providers, tenants still can't find common ground; DA Price live-streamed her press conference for 30 minutes without sound

COUNTY NEWS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

—BUDGET SZN—Just like that Alameda County is poised to painlessly wipe away a $68 million budget shortfall.

—In a board letter to county supervisors on Tuesday, County Administrator Susan Muranishi provided a thumbnail preview of the proposed balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25.

—The $4.5 billion budget, includes a $255 million increase in the general fund, Muranishi said.

—The budget is balanced with a combination of one-time funding strategies and departmental savings from previous years, and includes no reduction in staff.

—The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will hold budget hearings during the week of June 24, Muranishi added.

—Municipalities have until June 30 to approve a balanced budget.

—Here’s some of the highlights from the county’s proposed budget:

• $867 million recommended for 280 community-based organizations

• $750 million for mental health services,

• $174 million for in-home support services

• $100 million to support Alameda Health System

• $80 million for housing and homeless services

• $21.3 million for behavioral health programs

—“The proposed budget reflects continued revenue growth despite declining property tax revenue growth,” Muranishi said. Particularly worrisome is a two-year drop in the Real Estate Property Transfer Tax, she added.

—In addition, the county is still on the hook for $600 million in unfunded capital projects and deferred maintenance costs over the next five years, Muranishi said.

—The county’s proposed budget, however, does not include proceeds from Measure C, the half-cent sales tax approved in 2020 that represents a potential $150 million a year windfall for the county.

—Until last April when the California Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s ruling in favor of Measure C, the tax had been collected, but not allocated.

—The same with Measure W, also a half-cent sales tax narrowly approved by voters in 2020, but still in the process of litigation. Measure W is also estimated to generate $150 million a year in new revenue.

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MORE INSIDE:

• COUNTY NEWS: If county does not act fast, four shelters could face closure

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• DA NEWS: Pamela Price does not condone taunting of victims of crime, but also blames recallers

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