<body><div>EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors locked in a $749 million budget for fiscal 2024-2025 on Tuesday, Sept. 24, cementing a plan to boost public services and tackle critical infrastructure projects. Passed unanimously, the budget highlights both new investments and growing concerns over vacant positions and uncertain future revenue streams. The $132 million General Fund, which saw a 7.9 percent increase from last year, will primarily support public protection and health services, while also addressing the county’s most pressing operational needs. However, officials remain cautious about potential budget shortfalls as federal relief funds dry up and economic challenges loom.“Some of the budget challenges that we do need to keep in mind during this fiscal year are, of course, the current inflation and the increased cost of our public services,” said Deputy County Executive Officer for Budget-Finance Mayra Widmann in her budget presentation to the board. “Additionally, federal relief funding (for COVID-19) is ending, so we will need to, when we prepare next fiscal year’s budget, we will need to replace those funds with ongoing new revenue,” she said. Addressing delayed and deferred maintenance projects, increased demand for public services and a projected mild recession impacting the next two fiscal years were also raised as potential challenges for the county’s financial future. Despite these potential setbacks, the mood during the budget presentation was generally pleasant, with some officials praising the CEO’s office and the Budget and Finance department for its diligence.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4NDiCC_0vjbxObF00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4NDiCC_0vjbxObF00" width="1024" height="683" ><figcaption>Imperial County Executive Officer Miguel Figueroa looks at his tablet as discussion continues on the fiscal 2024-2025 budget presentation by Mayra Widmann, deputy Imperial County executive officer for Budget-Finance, inside county board chambers in El Centro. | KIMBER DIAL PHOTO</figcaption></figure>“This is the second year of having a balanced budget. I know that we’re still covering a little bit of a shortfall, but this is a long time, long time coming,” District 4 Supervisor Ryan Kelley said. “Very positive, and it will put us in the best position as we are going to expect some lean time from our other state and federal resources. So I thank you for your work, and this pays dividends for all the county and the county employees for the near future.”The newly adopted budget lays out funding for a variety of services and infrastructure improvements across the county. Topping the list is the countywide budget of $749 million, a 13.1 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, with notable investments in public services and health care.The $132 million General Fund, which comprises a significant portion of the budget, is dedicated largely to public protection, accounting for 66.8 percent of the total General Fund, followed by general government operations (21.8 percent) and public assistance (9.3 percent).Health and social services remain a priority, with the Department of Social Services and Behavioral Health Services receiving critical funding. Public assistance, which includes programs such as Workforce Development and In-Home Supportive Services, will receive 30.6 percent of the total budget.Meanwhile, capital projects will see a substantial boost, with $46.9 million allocated to improving facilities and infrastructure. Major projects include water and sanitation improvements, specifically $11.2 million earmarked for the Niland Sanitation District and a $1.7 million airport runway rehabilitation.The county has also budgeted to fill several long-vacant positions across departments. Vacant positions have long been a sticking point for the county, with supervisors expressing frustration over unfilled roles that have lingered for years. During past budget discussions, several board members called for more stringent auditing of these vacancies to better understand why so many funded positions remain unoccupied. This year’s budget presentation revealed that of the 2,642 funded positions, 339 remain vacant, including key roles in the health sector, such as six psychiatrist positions that have been unfilled since fiscal 2017-2018. Some $4.1 million of the 2024-2025 General Fund budget is allocated for these unfilled positions, while another $13.7 million for 278 vacant positions are funded from the total county budget. Supervisors have repeatedly pushed for greater transparency and accountability in filling these roles, to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being effectively utilized.The county’s unassigned general fund balance saw a significant boost, with a surplus of $21.1 million, driven by higher-than-expected revenues in property and sales taxes, as well as interest income. This surplus will be partially used to bolster the county’s reserves, bringing them to $26.5 million, which equals 20 percent of annual operating expenses — a healthy buffer designed to protect the county in case of emergencies or a recession.District 2 Supervisor and Chairperson of the Board Luis Plancarte echoed Supervisor Kelley’s praise for the county’s financial management, acknowledging the hard work that has gone into improving the county’s fiscal health. “This is coming a long way. Congratulations to everybody involved. This is incredible work,” Plancarte said. “I wish the state of California could get some help from what you guys have done because they’ve got some problems.”The 2024-2025 budget reflects both cautious optimism and readiness to face financial uncertainties. With a balanced budget in place for the second year running and substantial investments planned in public services and infrastructure, the county believes it is positioning itself for long-term stability. However, as economic challenges loom, the pressure will be on county officials to find new revenue streams to maintain this progress.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Imperial County Board Adopts $749M FY’25 Budget

EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors locked in a $749 million budget for fiscal 2024-2025 on Tuesday, Sept. 24, cementing a plan to boost public services and tackle critical infrastructure projects. Passed unanimously, the budget highlights both new investments and growing concerns over vacant positions and...