NEVADA CITY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors is continuing to focus on furthering eight priority objectives for fiscal year 2025/2026, reflecting the community’s top needs. The priorities remain the same as last year and build on past progress: fiscal stability and core services, housing, emergency preparedness, economic development, broadband, climate resilience, homelessness and recreation.

Given uncertainty in federal funding, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to take a conservative fiscal approach and to not dip into reserves to support projects even if they lack the amount of desired funding. Staff will also continue to investigate alternative funding sources such as grants and partnerships.

“We don’t know where we’re headed,” said Supervisor Sue Hoek. “We don’t know if or when we might have an emergency. I just like to have a cushion.”

Board of Supervisors Chair Heidi Hall added, “Who knows what the economy will do. I would prefer to be more conservative on reserve fund balances and not dig into them at this time.

Hopefully, we will still find funding for all these projects.” Supervisor Robb Tucker said the County needs to live within its means, although he’s hopeful to find alternative funding sources for projects. “While the objectives behind these projects remain a priority, we’re shifting our focus to first address the essential services the County provides daily – services that already align with these larger goals,” Tucker said.

Addressing Wildfire Threats

The County will continue to respond to ever-present wildfire danger by focusing on three main projects: removing hazardous vegetation from County-maintained roads, offering disposal options for green waste and large-scale vegetation management efforts such as the Woodpecker Ravine and Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone projects.

The Board reluctantly decided not to continue a biomass pilot project, which transforms wood into biochar in a site on La Barr Meadows Road, beginning in the next fiscal year, because of the expense. County staff recommended that the best “bang for the buck” comes from offering free green waste days when residents can dispose of yard clippings and tree branches at the dump and providing green waste bins to Firewise communities.

“I’m sad about losing the biomass pilot project because I think that’s our future and we should be investing in our future,” Hall said, “but it’s great that we can substitute regular green waste programs that people love for one more year.”

Addressing the Housing Shortage and Expanding Options

In response to the County’s housing shortage, the County will explore offering downpayment assistance for home buyers, identifying surplus land to build new homes and assisting with grants to support a nonprofit community land trust that could offer long-term affordable housing. Staff will also be exploring options to allow people to live long-term in RVs or nontraditional housing.

In the past year, the County has implemented policies to make it easier and more affordable to increase our housing stock such as launching an ADU Guidebook, housing master plans, reducing regulations on rural owner-built homes and adopting a tiny homes on wheel ordinance.

“We are working on creating an environment that fosters building at every level,” said Supervisor Hardy Bullock. “It’s a slow process, but every step counts. When you add the policies we’ve already implemented and those we’re working on, we are making steady progress.”

Maintaining Essential Services

Fiscal stability and core services will still come first. Core services comprise 90% of the County’s budgeted expenses and include public safety, roads and infrastructure, the jail, health and safety net services and animal control.

In furtherance of the core services objective, the Board showed support for the initial year of a pilot project to fund spaying and neutering of animals as many residents can’t afford fees of $275-$750. Supervisor Swarthout emphasized, “Even just this week, the population at Sammie’s Friends has increased, and they’re operating beyond capacity.”

The Board also backed $50,000 for continued litter abatement in the western county and directed staff to explore ways to minimize road closures due to snow in the eastern county. Other projects on the agenda include revamping the County’s 20-year-old cell tower ordinance, exploring offering a shuttle to the Yuba River and furthering work on the North San Juan Fire Suppression Project.

Budget Process

Each year, the Board of Supervisors identifies its annual priorities during the Board Workshop in January. The objectives identified aim to address community challenges and are used to manage County operations, programs, and services and to support the 2025/2026 budget development process. The Board will consider adopting the 2025/2026 budget in June following a budget public hearing.

Learn more about the priority objectives at http://www.nevadacountyca.gov/boardobjectives.