San Diego City Wire

San Diego County is inviting residents to participate in shaping the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, starting on July 1. Citizens can engage by visiting Engage San Diego County to complete a survey and use a tool that allows them to rank budget priorities.

The survey also asks participants how they wish to receive updates about the budget process. It will remain open until March 28. The feedback collected from this survey will be considered alongside other community inputs and various factors such as service delivery data, available resources, economic conditions, and state and federal funding availability.

The recommended budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 will be unveiled on May 1. Currently, the County's budget amounts to $8.53 billion.

San Diego County supports many regional programs and services across its unincorporated areas, 18 incorporated cities, and 18 federally recognized tribes. Responsibilities in unincorporated areas include law enforcement, road maintenance, building permits issuance, animal shelters management, parks, and libraries. Some cities contract with the County for these services.

The County also provides region-wide services aimed at maintaining public safety and health. These include emergency preparedness; criminal prosecution; social service assistance; food and housing access for vulnerable populations; health programs including behavioral health; food inspections; elections management; and beach water monitoring.

Funding from government agencies constitutes about half of the County’s budget with specific usage directives. The remainder primarily comes from property taxes and service fees, with some flexibility in allocation despite rising costs and uncertain state and federal funding.

Public input is encouraged after the recommended budget release on May 1 through online comments until June 12 via Engage San Diego County or by attending community meetings or Board of Supervisors hearings scheduled for June 3 and June 9. Budget deliberations conclude on June 24.

For more information on Board of Supervisors meetings or translation services requests, visit the Clerk of the Board’s website or call 619-531-5434. Additional details are available on the County’s budget website.