Sonoma County Measure O Meeting Fund Balance Report

Last October, the County told our Oversight Board it had plans to spend $44 million this fiscal year, and $46 million in the next one. They were responding to pressure from many to exhaust the tax-fed five buckets, and fund balances, of money that the voters have been contributing since November of 2020. The latest financial report (as of 1/24/25) distributed to us for our February 5th meeting indicates the County has spent $18 million of $19 million available in the second largest bucket (Behavioral Health Facilities) primarily by: 1) building and operating a 16-bed psychiatric health facility (Crestwood) at Los Guillicos, one of only nine in the state; and 2) contracting with 18 long-term residential care facilities in and out of Sonoma County. Of the largest bucket of money ($38.5 million for Emergency Psychiatric/Crisis Services), about two-thirds have been spent ($$25.8 million). Of the third largest bucket (Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services), only $350,000 of the $15.8 million has been spent. In the second smallest bucket (Behavioral Health Homeless/Care Coordination), $8 million of the $12 million available has been spent. And in the smallest bucket (Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing), $1 million of the $1.6 million has been spent. As a result, the total fund balance for all of the buckets is down by only $1.8 million, instead of the $11 million drop we had planned to spend. Do we still feel confident we can catch up in the next five months? And what about our plans to lower it by another $14 million next year?