The County of San Luis Obispo Board chambers.

Public Invited to Strategic Planning Session Tuesday

Author: Administrative Office
Date: 2/16/2018 1:54 PM

The public and news media are invited to a strategic planning session for the County of San Luis Obispo on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

County staff is seeking Board direction on a variety of issues. Two of the more pressing issues include an update on the County and State budgets for next fiscal year and mental health and medical services at County Jail. The meeting will begin on Tuesday at 9 a.m.

“Given that we expect a modest budget gap in the next fiscal year, we are seeking further direction from the Board on specific issues that need to be addressed and prioritized,” said CAO Wade Horton.

The County Administrative Office did a preliminary review of the budget numbers submitted by County departments in January and has confirmed that the County will face a $2.8 million to $4.8 million gap as it works to develop its budget for the coming fiscal year. This gap represents less than 1 percent of the County’s General Fund budget.

However, the Administrative Office also reports that there will likely be several million dollars in unspent funds available at the end of the current fiscal year, beyond what it is currently projecting. These unspent dollars would be available for one-time projects or programs identified as a priority for the coming fiscal year.

Each February, the County’s strategic planning session guides the development of the following year’s budget. The County’s budget year begins in July and runs through the following June. Other items on the agenda for the strategic planning session on Tuesday include an update on the SLO HotHouse, discussion about countywide infrastructure and facilities, planning and building priorities, and a presentation on the County’s 2017 Annual Report.

The Board holds two strategic planning sessions each year – once in February and again in November – to discuss the County’s priorities. The County’s approach to strategic planning is a collaborative process and the County encourages members of the public to attend.

For media inquiries, please contact Assistant CAO Guy Savage at (805) 781-5011 or [email protected].