County supervisors approve $562 million budget
2015-16 budget is up four-percent over last year
– The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a 2015-16 fiscal year budget. The $562.1 million budget is nearly a four percent increase over the 2014-15 fiscal year, which ends June 30.
The county identified fiscal challenges to come as the “great recession” loomed in the future in 2007. At that time county officials implemented a seven-year “pain management plan” to guide the board and staff in “addressing significant budget gaps.” The plan began with the 2008-09 fiscal year and the current fiscal year was the last year of the plan. In the proposed budget, staff said that the county is in a strong financial position as a result of its adherence to the plan.
“I am pleased to present the FY 2015-16 Proposed Budget to your board and the community. The budget reflects the county’s disciplined approach to fiscal management and is consistent with our goal to provide a safe, healthy, livable, prosperous and well-governed community,” County Administrator Dan Buckshi wrote in a letter dated May 15 to the board of supervisors. He added that the 2015-16 budget is a significant milestone of the county, because it is the first year that the county is able to return to “fully funding its contingencies, while making significant investments in the many programs and services that we provide to the community.”
The budget includes increasing staffing by 83 new full-time equivalent positions to provide a high level of service in many areas, increasing the road improvement budget by 32 percent from 2014-15, and allocating $2.6 million for community programs.
Funding to outside agencies:
- $200,000 ongoing contribution to Cal Poly HotHouse
- Increased contribution to SLO History Center by $26,439, total of $100,000
- $250,000 to Performing Arts Center from reserves
- 5 Cities Homeless Coalition $8,000
- Cambria Connection $15,000
- El Camino Homeless Organization $35,000
- People’s Self Help Housing $7,000
- North County Connection $10,000
- SLO Noor Foundation $25,000
- Coastal San Luis RCD $5,000
- Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD $5,000
