STANISLAUS COUNTY — The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors approved its 2026 Proposed Budget with a 4-1 vote, outlining a $1.87 billion spending plan to maintain essential services and financial stability for the coming year. Supervisor Channce Condit, whose district includes parts of the county’s west side, cast the lone "nay" vote, citing concerns over administrative inefficiencies and a need to prioritize investments in front-line workers.
The budget allocates funding for public safety, health programs, infrastructure improvements, and government operations, with the General Fund Contribution totaling $367.5 million, supported by department revenues, grants, and reserves. The largest share of funding—$750.3 million—goes toward Supporting a Healthy Community, ensuring continued investment in hospitals and health services. Meanwhile, $401.3 million is directed toward public safety, including law enforcement and emergency response initiatives. Infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs and park projects, account for $215.4 million.
While the budget balances ongoing services with one-time expenditures, Condit expressed concerns about the county’s top-heavy administrative structure and emphasized the need to shift resources toward front-line employees.
“Our county government is too top-heavy, and we need to take a serious look at how we are allocating resources,” Condit said. “To improve the efficiency and responsiveness of county operations, we must start by supporting the staff who are doing the work on the ground—not just expanding layers of management. There’s an imbalance.”
Condit called for a detailed review of staffing distribution across departments, advocating for greater accountability in resource allocation. Despite the budget maintaining current staffing levels, he believes additional scrutiny is needed to ensure that essential workers are adequately supported.
The county anticipates $491.3 million in general fund revenue and will use $37.6 million in fund balance to avoid service cuts, leaving an expected $143.4 million in reserves by June 2026—a decline from the $181 million balance this year.
“This vote wasn’t about rejecting services—it was about demanding smarter, more efficient governance,” Condit said. “We owe it to the taxpayers to build a leaner, more effective government that puts frontline workers first. This will improve deliverables for our county residents.”
The budget remains preliminary, with final decisions following a review of state and federal funding impacts.
