County of Riverside announces Board of Supervisors approves $8.6 billion budget, expands services by $1 billion

This week, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted the budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, The adopted budget delivers the vision of the Board of Supervisors by improving and increasing services for  the fastest growing county in Southern California. The approved budget includes more than $8.6 billion in funding for vital services, which is up more than 15 percent from last year’s $7.5 billion budget.

Highlights from the adopted budget include:

• $2.5 billion for the RUHS Health and Hospital Services departments, representing 28.6 percent of the total budget
• $2 billion for the Public Safety departments, which is 23 percent of the total budget.
• $1.9 billion for the Human Services departments, representing 22 percent.
• Public Works and Community Services departments comprises 11.4 percent of all appropriations at $982.6 million.
• The Internal Services departments comprises 7.8 percent
• The Finance and Government departments comprise the remaining 7.2 percent.

“Investing more in health, public safety and human services translates to better access to healthcare, safer communities, and overall better living conditions for our residents,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Kevin Jeffries, First District Supervisor.

Additionally, for the second straight year, the General Fund discretionary budget is structurally balanced.  For next fiscal year, the county anticipates discretionary revenue of $1.1 billion, a net increase of 12.8 percent from last year’s budget. The discretionary spending includes $20 million in contingency reserved for emergency board action, and $10 million for community investment as part of the unincorporated communities initiatives (UCI), which can be used for additional services or infrastructure.

The General Fund discretionary budget includes $5.3 million to replace equipment in Animal Services and open the San Jacinto Animal Shelter, $1 million to increase the number of officers that investigate Code Enforcement complaints, $7million to attract and retain qualified social workers at Department of Public Social Services, $245,000 to facilitate the coordination with local governments to address homelessness and affordable housing, and $4.7 million for the completion of a sheriff substation in Lake Mathews.

Next fiscal year runs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

To read the approved budget, click here.

Original source can be found here