Fresno County Approves $5.5 Billion Budget, Avoiding Layoffs — But Warns Future Years Will Be Harder

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve a $5.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year — the county’s largest spending plan to date — that closes a projected $15 million shortfall without cutting services or laying off employees.

But County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland told supervisors the county used one-time funding sources to balance this year’s books, and warned that approach won’t be available in future budget cycles as state and federal dollars decline. “We’ve managed to get to this point,” Nerland said, “but that maneuverability will be less going forward.”

The budget covers eight major departments that touch families’ daily lives: the district attorney, probation, public defender, sheriff, behavioral health, public health, social services, and public works and planning. Directors from those departments presented during Monday’s three-hour hearing, though the board approved the budget — first published last month — with no changes.

Joe Prado, the county’s director of public health, flagged one immediate concern: federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, signed last year, could force the county to scale back mobile health programs — services Prado called “a marquee program for the department.”

Behavioral health and public health directors told supervisors their departments are preparing for additional federal policy changes that could strain staff, though they expressed confidence they’re ready to handle the shifts.

Virtually no residents showed up to speak during the hearing’s public comment period.

The Breakdown

• The budget totals $5.5 billion — the largest in county history.
• The county closed a $15 million shortfall using one-time funding sources, but that approach won’t be available in future years as state and federal dollars decline.
• No layoffs or service cuts are planned for this budget cycle.
• Federal funding cuts could reduce the county’s mobile health programs.
• Board Chair Garry Bredefeld chose this year’s budget theme, “Building A Safer and Stronger Fresno County,” and will host the state of the county address Sept. 24 at the Fresno Convention Center.

What This Means for You

This budget was approved by the five supervisors you elected to represent your district. The county used one-time money to close this year’s gap, and County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland warned that approach won’t be available in future cycles, meaning less maneuverability going forward. The mobile health programs that could face cuts from federal funding reductions are what Public Health Director Joe Prado called “a marquee program for the department.”

This budget kept everything intact for now, avoiding layoffs and service reductions.

What You Can Do

Board Chair Garry Bredefeld will host the county’s state of the county address on Sept. 24 at noon at the Fresno Convention Center, where county priorities and future plans will be discussed.

What to Watch

The county closed this year’s $15 million gap using one-time money — funds that won’t be there next year. County Administrative Officer Paul Nerland warned that the maneuverability the county had this cycle “will be less going forward” as state and federal dollars decline. The county says it avoided layoffs and service reductions this cycle.

Mobile health programs are already at risk from federal funding cuts — services Public Health Director Joe Prado identified as “a marquee program for the department.” Federal policy changes are coming that behavioral health and public health directors say may strain their staff, though they expressed confidence they’re prepared to handle the shifts.