Riverside County Officials Seek Public Input On Budget Priorities

The following is Jan. 5, 2026, news release from the county of Riverside:

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The County of Riverside wants to hear from residents on what they want to see in the county’s budget. The county launched its annual budget priorities survey to gauge residents’ priorities, needs and requests.

Residents are invited to provide input into how county taxpayer dollars are spent across county departments and services for the upcoming fiscal year. The survey is available online in both English and Spanish and will run until February 28, 2026.

Last year, more than 24,000 residents participated in the survey, which was reviewed before the current budget was presented to the Board of Supervisors. This year, our goal is to exceed last year’s turnout.

The survey is part of an expanded effort to give Riverside County residents more opportunities to voice their opinions early and often during the budget development process.

“I am glad to see us continue our outreach to community members to participate during the budget process,” said Fourth District Supervisor and Board Chair V. Manuel Perez. “We want to hear what is most important to you, in your county government.”

Participants can identify services of greater need in their areas, as well as indicate categories of spending to receive more or less funding. The County encourages all to participate.

To further enhance public engagement, the County will also host five budget workshops throughout the county in April, with details to be announced soon. This ensures accessibility for residents across the vast geographic area of Riverside County.

These workshops will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the budget process, share their perspectives, and offer input ahead of the annual budget hearings on June 8 and 9.

“This questionnaire is a simple way for residents to weigh in on what matters most to them,” said Vice Chair and Second District Supervisor Karen Spiegel. “The budget affects our daily lives, and hearing directly from the people who live here helps guide those decisions. I encourage residents to take a few minutes to share their input.”

The results of the annual budget priorities survey will be shared at an upcoming board of supervisors meeting in May.

For more information about the budget priorities survey, please visit rivco.org/budget.