Contra Costa County Set to Look at $5.97 Billion 2024-25 Budget

Martinez, CA – As part of its ongoing efforts to provide services that improve the quality of life for residents, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will discuss the $5.979 billion Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Recommended Budget at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 22.

“Contra Costa County continues to benefit from decades of prudent fiscal management,” said County Administrator Monica Nino. “Our strong financial reserves, excellent credit ratings, and low debt have positioned the County well to counterbalance rising costs and the economic forces slowing property tax revenue growth. The Recommended Budget is balanced, maintains current service levels, and reflects sound financial practices.”

The recommended budget is structurally balanced. However, the following items are potential pressures on the recommended spending plan:

Unanticipated impacts from the forthcoming Governor’s May Revision Budget proposal and shortfalls in state and federal allocations;
Slower revenue growth; and
FEMA reimbursement related to COVID-19, currently outstanding cash claims total $47.6M

More details about the County’s strategic plan, General Purpose Revenue allocations, budgeted positions, and key budget issues are provided in the Budget Overview of the budget book.

The Board discussion is scheduled to continue at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23. Budget adoption is scheduled for the Board’s meeting on Tuesday, May 21.

Editors Notes – 529 Page Document

Here are tidbits pulled from the report that may be of interest to Contra Costa County:

External budgetary risks loom. Since the State released its proposed budget in January 2024, the Legislative Analyst’s Office has projected a $73 billion revenue shortfall – the largest deficit in the state’s history. How the state will ultimately close the deficit in the May Revision and subsequent actions, and the resultant impacts on the County’s budget and local economy, have yet to be fully determined
Each County department was asked to submit a budget that balanced its requirements to provide services with the County’s goals of adopting a budget that balances annual expenses and revenues, addresses revenue constraints and salary cost increases, capital replacement, information technology investments, and debt service payments.
General purpose revenue totals $783.2 million for FY24-25, an increase of 8.0% over the prior year. Of the major revenue sources, property taxes are the largest category and total $520.6 million. 79% of the County’s discretionary budget goes to just eight departments, most of which is for public health and safety.
The Health Services Department, for instance, has general purpose revenue budgeted at $247.7 million (including Measure X) for ongoing operations, which accounts for 31.6% of the discretionary funds available for allocation countywide. The next largest sources are Measure X sales tax at $120.2 million, interest income at $60 million, and sales and use taxes at $21.7 million. Measure X allocations are technically funded through general purpose revenues, and the expenditure appropriations were previously approved by the Board of Supervisors, including a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.4%
The Recommended Budget includes 11,400.6 full-time equivalent positions (FTE), an increase of 258.0 FTE from the prior year’s adopted budget. The net change includes 123.75 FTE approved midyear by the Board of Supervisors and 134.25 net new FTE proposed by departments and recommended to be added for FY24-25. The cost of the third year of negotiated 5% cost-of-living wage adjustments totals approximately $83 million; an additional 5% increase will apply to 89% of county employees in the following fiscal year as well.

The recommended budget is structurally balanced. However, the following items are potential pressures to the recommended spending plan.

Unanticipated impacts from the forthcoming Governor’s May Revision Budget proposal and shortfalls in state and federal allocations;
Slower revenue growth; and
FEMA reimbursement related to COVID-19, currently outstanding cash claims total $47.6M

There may be additional costs and challenges associated with the implementation of CARE Court and the recent passage of Prop 1. In anticipation of these and other potential local revenue and service impacts, the County’s Recommended Budget increases appropriations for contingencies from $15M to $20M

County Sheriff

The Office of the Sheriff’s FY24-25 Recommended Budget increases expenditure appropriations and revenue by approximately $17 million, or 5.4%, for a total budget of $335,872,593. The Recommended Budget provides 1,164.5 FTE funded positions for the Office of the Sheriff, which reflects a net increase of 18.0 FTE positions compared to the FY23-24 Adopted Budget. The Sheriff requested the addition of 4.0 FTE positions to staff a new Information & Intelligence Unit to improve data analysis and reporting requests from the Board.

Response times of Priority 1 calls (initial call to on-scene arrival, in minutes and seconds)

2022/23 – 15:21 minutes
2023-24 – 14:00 minutes
2024/25 – 14:00 minutes (projected)

A3 Referrals (Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime)

2022/23 – 647
2023/24 – 1,200
2024/25 – 718 (projected)

Contra Costa County District Attorney

The District Attorney’s Office FY24-25 Recommended Budget increases expenditure appropriations and revenue by approximately $7.2 million, or 12.6%, to $64,679,781. Aside from the negotiated salary increases for all eligible employees, an approximate $1.1 million increase is attributed to the addition of 5 attorney positions to address the increased workload related to the Racial Justice Act and police misconduct.

To better serve East County clients and law enforcement partner agencies, the District Attorney’s Office plans to enter into a new lease in East County, proximate to the Pittsburg Superior Court. Approximately 20 staff members from the District Attorney’s Office in Martinez will relocate to the new office location, which aligns with the County’s Facilities Master Plan.

Performance Measures

Number of Felony Trial Days (goal is 400)

2023 – 424
2022 – 676
2021 – 200

Number of Felony Cases Filed (goal is 3,000)

2023 – 2,882
2022 – 3,008
2021 – 3,090

Human Trafficking Cases Prosecuted

2023 – 26
2022 – 16
2021 – 13

Cases Approved for Prosecutor Initiated Resentencing

2023 – 25
2022 – 9
2021 – 3

Contra Costa County Public Defender

12,346 cases were referred to the Public Defender for legal representation last year:

Felonies – 2,384
Misdemeanor – 4,071
Youth Defense – 401
Mental Health/Conservatorship – 642
Revocations – 1,530
Post-Conviction – 140
Clean Slate – 3,036
Immigration – 142

The Public Defender’s FY24-25 Recommended Budget increases expenditure appropriations and revenue within the General Fund by approximately $4.4 million. This is a 9.5% increase compared to the Department’s FY23-24 Adopted Budget.

Continue addressing the cases of those impacted by the Antioch Police Department racism scandal. The Public Defender’s Office has identified over 500 individuals currently serving prison sentences or placed on probation who were potentially impacted by the Antioch Police Department scandal. The department will continue screening each of these cases and litigating any constitutional or statutory violations for those impacted by racist policing, excessive force, or other due process violations.

2023 Contra Costa County Public Defender Data

Public Works

Public Infrastructure Budget Challenges

Road Fund – Expenditures for the Road Fund total approximately $85.5 million. This amount increased by $1.1 million from FY23-24 due to planned road maintenance and road improvement projects. Recommended project expenditures include: Countywide surface treatment, slurry seal, Marsh Creek Road Bridge Replacement, Byron Highway Bridge Replacement, and county liability insurance costs
Flood Control – FY24-25 funding for Flood Control Districts totals $181 million and reflects an increase of $34 million from FY23-24. Major expenditures include drainage facilities maintenance, Walnut Creek Sediment Removal, Grayson and Walnut Creeks Levee Improvements, Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Vegetation Establishment, Lower Sand Creek Basin Expansion, Upper Sand Creek Basin Infrastructure Repair, and Wildcat Creek Fish Passage and Community Engagement.
Due to the impact of Propositions 13 and 218 on County revenues, the Department has been unable to provide appropriate levels of maintenance for flood control and stormwater facilities. The deferred maintenance backlog is growing and will continue to grow without an infusion of revenue. In addition, the new Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP) requirements are well beyond what current funding can support.
2026 – a ballot initiative is in the works.

Health Services

For the operating indicators (the data) – see page 278

Contra Costa County Fire

Throughout the total contracted service area, ambulances transported 83,161 patients in calendar year CY2023, representing a 2.0% increase in transports compared to CY2022

2023 Incidents: