Merced Focus
The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the county’s 2025-26 budget at $1.12 billion and expressed interest in holding budget workshops to gather more public input in future years.
The budget that passed was $24.9 million lower than June’s proposed budget because spending is winding down for the jail renovation project and projects paid with American Rescue Plan Act funding. Additionally, there were decreases in capital improvement projects and health and human services spending.
A large portion of the county’s budget includes federal and state funding for mandated health and social services. Of the $220 million the Board of Supervisors controls, 78% of that funding was allocated to public safety and justice programs in this year’s budget.
Supervisor Scott Silveira is known to use the catch phrase “We’re healthy, not wealthy,” when talking about Merced County’s budget. His assessment this year: “I’m not quite willing to say that we’re completely healthy.”
A handful of residents who are involved with Communities for a New California (CNC), a grass-roots advocacy nonprofit, spoke during public comment asking county supervisors to invest more than the current $1.5 million in the budget for affordable housing.
“Housing is not only a basic need, but a social determinant of health, and should be prioritized accordingly,” Julio Contreras, a lifelong Merced resident and UC Merced graduate, told the board.
Residents also asked the board to provide more opportunities for public input and education on the county’s budget.
“We want to see a county budget that reflects the needs of the community,” Delhi resident Blanca Lozano said.
Merced County CEO Mark Hendrickson encouraged the public comment speakers to direct their affordable housing advocacy toward their state legislators, noting the housing crisis is a statewide issue.
After hearing people’s questions about the budget during public comment, Supervisor Lloyd Pareira said he agreed a budget workshop was a good idea.
“So maybe we do have an opportunity to Sunshine the budget process a little better for the community,” he said.
The supervisors also received some praise during the budget hearing. Anna Lisa Vargas, a lead organizer with CNC, thanked county administrators and the elected officials for being quick to respond, meeting with people from the organization, and answering questions.
