Plumas County Board of Supervisors approved a $175.3 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, meeting the state deadline on Sept. 30. The largest portion—$163.5 million—is allocated to governmental funds, including:
- $61.4 million in general funds for county operations
- $90.9 million in special revenue funds supporting mandated programs and services
- $10.6 million in debt service funds for long-term capital improvement debts
- $0.4 million in capital improvement funds
Additionally, a $6.2 million fund balance from the previous year is included.
About half of the budget covers nondiscretionary federal and state program expenses such as public assistance, mental health, and public health services. Discretionary funds focus on general government services and public safety to maintain essential county functions and community protections.
The budget approval process was notably smoother and more transparent than in prior years, with close collaboration between the county auditor-controller, supervisors, department heads, and a consultant. Supervisors emphasized improved communication and civility as key factors in reaching consensus quickly during the Sept. 30 hearing.
The final budget is $1.1 million higher than the initial recommendation, mainly due to increased grant administration costs. Some staffing positions were eliminated, resulting in 411.45 authorized full-time positions, with an actual workforce of 334.95—reflecting a 19% vacancy rate, down from 21% reported earlier.
Supervisor Mimi Hall highlighted that this budget process is “as close as we have come in a long time” to accuracy and expressed optimism about continued progress toward financial stability and transparency in future budgets.
