$10 Billion Budget Approved For Fiscal Year 2025-26 In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A $10 billion 2025-26 fiscal year budget was approved Tuesday for Riverside County, and it includes a hiring freeze across many county departments amid state and federal financial uncertainties.

Approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, budget highlights include $2.8 billion for health services, $2.3 billion for public safety, $2 billion for human services and $1.2 billion for public works.

The fiscal year begins July 1.

"This is a budget that makes investments that will keep Riverside County a place people want to continue coming to, to live, work, raise their families and enjoy a great quality of life," said Riverside County Chairman of the Board, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "It’s a balance that we ensure we have our folks protected, taken care of and secure, but simultaneously ensuring that we have behavioral health services, social services, housing and infrastructure."

The county is facing financial pressures, including rising costs, flattening revenue, and aging infrastructure. To address the challenge, the approved plan includes the use of $73 million from the county’s General Fund reserves to balance the budget.

To limit future reliance on General Fund reserves, the county implemented cost-control measures that include the hiring freeze across most departments.

"State and federal policy and budget decisions are unpredictable, and their impacts remain largely unknown at this time," according to a Tuesday news release from the county. "The county is closely monitoring developments in Sacramento and Washington D.C., for potential funding cuts or delays and how that could affect programs and services."

Tuesday's approval came after extensive meetings with county departments and an expanded community outreach campaign that included public input.

During the budget hearings earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved more than $17.2 million in additional funding. The "targeted investments" are designed to strengthen public safety, emergency response, housing, and community well-being. Approved budget adjustments include:

• $1.8 million to increase staffing in the Fire Marshal’s Office of the Fire Department
• $1.4 million to the District Attorney’s Office to expand victim services and attorney support
• $332,000 to the Emergency Management Department for new positions focused on alert warnings and access and functional needs planning
• $1.7 million to the Public Defender’s Office for additional attorney positions and expert witnesses
• $4.8 million to the Department of Animal Services to increase staff supporting life-saving operations, such as foster care, intake, rescue and adoptions
• $5 million to Housing and Workforce Solutions to expand affordable housing efforts.
• $1 million to the nonprofit organization Lift to Rise to address the region’s high cost of housing

For more information on the budget, visit rivco.org/budget