Your Tax Dollars at Work: Understanding the County of Santa Clara Budget
Your money is important to you, and you want to know that the County of Santa Clara is using your tax dollars to provide services that will improve your life and support the well-being of our community.
From safeguarding public health to providing shelter and assistance for those experiencing homelessness, from expanding support for children and families to ensuring fair access to justice, the County is dedicated to serving the needs of our diverse communities equitably and sustainably.
But how does all this vital work get funded?
“Revenue to support County services comes from various sources, including federal and state funding and locally generated income, like property and sales taxes and fees for services,” explains Erica Kelly, who is a financial plan manager in the County Office of Budget Analysis.
After establishing and collecting revenue, budgeting comes next.
“Budgeting is the process the County uses to estimate revenue and allocate funding to the many programs that serve our community,” says Office of Budget Analysis director, Greg Iturra. “Because the County's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, we begin building the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during the summer and fall months.”
Departments across the County estimate the costs for their programs and services, and they submit their budget proposals to the Office of the County Executive in February.
After carefully reviewing the department’s budget proposals, the Office of the County Executive puts together a comprehensive, holistic recommended budget for consideration by the Board of Supervisors.
In May, the Board holds public meetings where residents and stakeholders can voice their opinions on the budget. Based on new information and feedback from the Board, the recommended budget is adjusted in June.
The Board of Supervisors makes decisions about resource allocations. These decisions are influenced by priorities and strategic goals, such as healthcare and mental health services, facilitating access to housing, enhancing community safety and criminal justice measures, supporting children and families, and promoting sustainability initiatives.
The Board adopts the final Budget before the start of the fiscal year on July 1st.
And that's the budget basics for the County of Santa Clara, ensuring that your tax dollars are used effectively to support and enhance our community.
Learn more about the County Budgetary Process Timeline at:
View the calendar of County budget dates relating to the budget process at
https://www.santaclaracounty.gov/2023-2024-2024-2025-county-budget-calendar
The Board of Supervisors will hold budget hearings the second week of June. Click on the link(s) below to review the Agenda and Agenda Packet or watch the live stream of the meeting.
Board of Supervisors & Boards and Commissions