Stanislaus County officials are releasing their Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Recommended Final Budget for consideration as the final spending plan for the current fiscal year. A Public Hearing to adopt the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Recommended Final Budget has been scheduled at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The hearing will take place at 1010 10th St., Modesto, in the basement Board Chambers.

The Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Recommended Final Budget totals $1,265,328,047 in appropriations (authorized spending) which reflects an $82.9 million (7 percent) increase over the 2017-2018 Adopted Proposed Budget. Total Revenue is now projected at $1,192,446,520 which reflects a $68.1 million (6.1 percent) increase over the 2017-2018 Adopted Proposed Budget.

As the County completes a significant period of transition with the appointment of Jody Hayes to the Chief Executive Officer position, the focus of the budget is ‘Striving together to be the best.’

“This is more than a motto to me, it serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement through a focus on partnership and teamwork,” said Hayes.

The 2017-2018 Final Budget staffing recommendations include an overall increase in the allocation count of 33 positions to a total authorized position level of 4,469 upon Final Budget approval. Of the 33 positions recommended, 22 positions will support the Healthy Community Departments due to an increase in State and Federal mandates, a need for additional supervision, and clerical, accounting and fiscal support to increase efficiencies and enhance current services. The remainder of the positions support Board of Supervisors’ priorities and will address organizational needs for staff training and development, program compliance, and facility maintenance requirements. All but three of the positions are supported with external funding.

Discretionary Revenue is unrestricted money the County is free to use for things like public safety, health care, parks or many other services. Discretionary revenue is budgeted at $205.8 million and represents an increase of $2.1 million from the Adopted Proposed Budget, primarily due to the actual Assessment Roll increase of 5.7 percent for the unincorporated area of Stanislaus County.

The Stanislaus County Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Recommended Final Budget is available for public review at the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors’ Office at 1010 10th St., Suite 6500, in Modesto. It is also available on the County’s website at www.stancounty.com/budget/ or at any of the 13 libraries located throughout Stanislaus County, including Riverbank and Oakdale.