Financial Outlook 2024-25

San Diego County is home to nearly 3.3 million residents and a destination for almost 32 million visitors annually. There’s a lot to love about our vibrant community and this budget ensures essential services will continue while also addressing critical areas that increasingly impact residents.

County of San Diego’s core values of belonging, equity, access, sustainability, integrity and excellence continue to shape our budget. Additionally, the budget is built to address today's challenges, prepare for future economic uncertainties, build resiliency and move the region forward.

The Fiscal Year 2024-25 $8.53 billion adopted budget reflects an increase of 4.5% over last year. This increase is part of a strategy to sustain core County services, limit growth in mandated programs, meet obligations to operate capital facilities and contain staffing growth to meet previous mandates. Overall, the County will increase the number of staff positions by 84 or 0.4% to 20,471.25 full-time equivalent positions.

Housing and homelessness remain among the most urgent challenges. To address these issues, a significant investment was made to increase the region’s affordable housing across income levels. This budget also includes critical investments to meet the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness.

We’re creating and preserving multifamily rental housing in the unincorporated area, while also ensuring increased access to shelter, housing and essential services. Additionally, the budget will expand programs for veterans to help them avoid confinement and provide long-term support. We’re also committed to the In-Home Supportive Services program, food security, nutrition and support services for older adults and youth.

Behavioral health investments will focus on workforce development, the opioid crisis and substance use disorder services. The County will also invest in the Social Equity Program which will provide economic access and equity in the cannabis industry.

We’re allocating resources to public safety with increased funding for fire, emergency, ambulance services, and toward combating retail theft and supporting gun violence prevention. Justice reform initiatives will support youth through the Youth Development Academy and other programs designed to prevent young people from entering or reentering jail.

This budget continues to invest in safety-net programs that assist over a million vulnerable residents, ensuring access to services like CalWORKs, CalFresh and Medi-Cal, which provide food, healthcare and financial support.

The County is also committed to environmental sustainability. We are investing in watershed protection, public electric vehicle charging stations and the planting of 4,000 new trees.

Infrastructure investments are another key focus, with funding dedicated to road safety, park facilities, trails and libraries. Notable projects include the new Casa de Oro Library, Calavo Park in Spring Valley, a pilot archery project at a County park and support for the Battery Energy Storage System. A new, state-of-the-art public health lab is expected to open in 2025.

The budget builds capacity and ensures the ability to respond to enterprise growth and changing program requirements while also modernizing the county’s technology infrastructure. The plan reflects our core values and paves a path for a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all.

Total Adopted Budget: $8.53 billion