The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has approved a $4.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, maintaining funding for key public services even as officials warned of potential financial challenges ahead.
The budget supports core programs including public safety, health care and affordable housing, but in a hearing at the County Center in Redwood City, county officials noted that uncertainties at the state and federal levels could affect revenue streams in the coming months.
“These are not just numbers on a page, they represent our values, our priorities and the trust the public places in us,” Board of Supervisors president David Canepa on Wednesday said in a statement.
Canepa cited shrinking support from state and federal partners, alongside increasing costs from inflation, labor agreements, and economic pressures as reasons for caution.
“Every dollar we spend must be justified and every position we add must be accountable to the people we serve,” he said.
Among the most pressing concerns are California’s projected $12 billion budget shortfall, which state lawmakers plan to address through borrowing, reserve funds, and funding shifts — measures that could impact local budgets.
Potential federal policy changes may affect critical programs like Medicaid and housing assistance, county officials said.
A second round of budget hearings is scheduled for September, when county leaders expect greater clarity on state and federal funding levels.