Here is a summary of the conundrum facing the County budget.
General Fund Reserves, page 4 of 33
$10,287,010
General fund annual expenses, identified on page 132 of 685
$356,895,944
Reserves are less than 3% of County expenses.
By comparison, virtually every local government in Mendocino County, and even most nonprofits in Mendocino County, have reserves well above 3% of their own operating budgets.
Some are hoping the Assessor's Office will identify enough buildings not currently on the tax rolls to solve the County's budget woes. Is this likely? Roughly 70% of property taxes goes to schools and other government agencies. If the Assessor's Office finds 3,000 homes not on the tax rolls, and those homes average 1,400 square feet, the County would receive roughly $3 million a year in additional revenue. That compares with the County's structural budget deficit of $7 million this fiscal year (23-24), and what looks like a structural deficit of $10 million in next fiscal year (24-25).
Over the last four years the salaries of County of Mendocino's 1,100 employees were substantially raised and brought very close to market. Unfortunately, today the County budget lacks the surplus funds to further increase salaries. Efficiencies will need to be put in place to free up funds in the County budget for further increases in salaries.
Dear board and members of the public:
Here is a summary of the conundrum facing the County budget.
General Fund Reserves, page 4 of 33
$10,287,010
General fund annual expenses, identified on page 132 of 685
$356,895,944
Reserves are less than 3% of County expenses.
By comparison, virtually every local government in Mendocino County, and even most nonprofits in Mendocino County, have reserves well above 3% of their own operating budgets.
Some are hoping the Assessor's Office will identify enough buildings not currently on the tax rolls to solve the County's budget woes. Is this likely? Roughly 70% of property taxes goes to schools and other government agencies. If the Assessor's Office finds 3,000 homes not on the tax rolls, and those homes average 1,400 square feet, the County would receive roughly $3 million a year in additional revenue. That compares with the County's structural budget deficit of $7 million this fiscal year (23-24), and what looks like a structural deficit of $10 million in next fiscal year (24-25).
Over the last four years the salaries of County of Mendocino's 1,100 employees were substantially raised and brought very close to market. Unfortunately, today the County budget lacks the surplus funds to further increase salaries. Efficiencies will need to be put in place to free up funds in the County budget for further increases in salaries.
Dan Gjerde