FAQs
- Review the information on San Diego County Budget and on this site
- Share the information with your community
- Attend budget hearings during Board of Supervisor meetings and community budget meetings. Review the "key dates" section of this site for dates, times, and locations
- Provide input through the tools on this page
What information is available on the Recommended Budget?
The County's Budget website offers information on the Recommended Budget. At a high level, revenue and expenditure information is available for each of the County’s four business groups and their departments for multiple fiscal years. Values for the County’s capital budget are also available.
When it is released on May 1, the Recommended Budget for 2025-27 including an executive summary and budget snapshot will also be available on the Budget website.
For historical references, please see the County’s Operational Plan and Budget Information page.
What is the County's budget process?
There are three budgetary phases in the County of San Diego.
1. Each year, the County's Groups and departments create a two-year Recommended Operational Plan, also referred to as the Recommended Budget, to present to the public and Board of Supervisors for consideration in May, using the county's Five-Year Financial Forecast for guidance.
2. Potential revisions to the Recommended Budget must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board by the end of the Public Hearing process, starting the Change Letter phase.
3. A majority of the Board of Supervisors is required, after public hearings and changes, to vote on and adopt a Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and tentatively approve a Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 before July 1.
Are budgeted amounts monitored regularly?
Yes! The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides a quarterly budget status report to the Board of Supervisors to report and correct any budget variances. The goal is to use taxpayer dollars efficiently while at the same time maintain flexibility for unforeseen expenditures.
How can I participate in the budget process?
You can participate in the budget process in different ways:
How can I watch a budget presentation during a Board of Supervisors Meeting?
Information on how to attend a Board of Supervisors meeting or watch a meeting on line can be found on the Clerk of the Board website. Click on the link below.
https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html#watch
What is the County's Budget Equity Assessment Tool?
The tool is a questionnaire that leads departments to better understand how their respective budgets impacts historically marginalized vulnerable communities. It established a framework for resource allocation that advances equity.
What does the County do?
The County of San Diego has a large unincorporated area in addition to 18 incorporated cities and 18 federally recognized tribes.
In the unincorporated area, County government is responsible for the day-to-day things a city government would do, like law enforcement, roads, building permits, animal shelters and protection, along with parks and libraries. Some cities also contract with the County to provide services.
County government provides many services that support the entire county to keep people safe and healthy. These include emergency preparedness; criminal prosecution and detention facilities; social service assistance, like access to food and housing for vulnerable people that is often funded by the federal and state government; health programs including behavioral health services; food and restaurant inspections; elections and beach water monitoring.
Where does the money for the budget come from?
A large share comes from the state and federal governments. But those tax dollars must be spent on certain programs. Some money comes in from property taxes, fees for services, and other sources.
Once the funding for state and federal-mandated programs is accounted for, the County looks at what funds are left to spend and considers how to get the most out of the remaining tax dollars.