The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors adopted a $639.6 million budget Tuesday for the fiscal year of 2019-2020.
Next year’s adopted budget, will be taking effect on July 1 and grew just more than one percent over the current year.
“We are faced with a modest budget gap of about $2.8 million, which means we had to tighten our belts to balance the budget,” said County Budget Director Emily Jackson. “The small increase to next year’s budget will allow us to provide the public services that the county is legally required to provide, as well as services and programs that reflect the board’s priorities.”
Jackson also states that the county will be able to continue its competitive grant program, despite a slight reduction in funding, for outside agencies that provide important community services.
The county has prioritized many types of services and programs, such as public safety and roads, but also includes:
- the Stepping Up Initiative to help keep people with mental illness out of jail
- affordable housing programs and initiatives
- cannabis code enforcement activities and efforts
- groundwater sustainability plans
- economic development activities and plans
The newly adopted budget will also expand the County’s housing-first program that serves the homeless community and provides $1.98 million in contributions to outside agencies, which includes dozens of local non-profits organizations.
