Understanding the County Budget and Why It Matters to Everyone

I admit, this is not an exciting one. But when I talk to people in Tuolumne County, there are quite a few that don’t understand how our county budget works, where it all comes from and where it all goes. So, If you’ve ever looked around and wondered:

“Why is that road still full of potholes?”

“Why are we laying off firefighters when fires are getting worse?”

“Where exactly is all our tax money going?”

You’re not alone — and you’re asking the right questions.

The truth is, the county budget affects every part of daily life in Tuolumne County, from snow plowing and fire protection to mental health services, housing programs, and how long you wait at the DMV. It’s not just something for accountants or politicians to worry about. It’s something that affects you, your family, and your future.

Let’s walk through how it works.

What Is the County Budget?

Every year, Tuolumne County creates a budget, basically a spending plan that lays out how much money is coming in (from taxes, grants, and the state/federal government) and how that money will be spent (on departments, services, salaries, and infrastructure)

Just like with our own household budgets, the goal is to keep the books balanced and don’t spend more than we bring in.

But unlike a family budget, a county budget has to meet the needs of tens of thousands of people. And the money doesn’t all come in one pile. Some funds can only be used for specific things. That’s important to understand.

Where Does the Money Come From?

The county gets its funding from a few main sources:

• Property taxes (what you pay if you own a home or land)

• Sales taxes (every time you shop or eat out)

• Transient occupancy tax (TOT) (paid by visitors who stay in hotels or vacation rentals)

• State and federal funds (for specific programs like healthcare, roads, or emergency response)

• Fees and fines (like building permits or court fees)

All of this goes into different “buckets” — some flexible, some locked in. For example, gas tax funds must go toward roads. Public health funds from the state can’t be used to fix a trail. So even if there’s money in the system, it might not be available for the thing you’re most worried about.

Where Does the Money Go?

The county’s spending falls into several big categories:

• Public safety (fire departments, sheriff’s office, emergency services)

• Health and Human Services (mental health, public health, housing help)

• Roads and infrastructure

• Administration (the folks who make the county run day to day)

• Parks and recreation

• Libraries and youth services

• Planning and building departments

• Debt and pensions

Some of these are state-mandated — meaning the county must provide them. Others are more flexible — but often just as important to residents.

Some of the county’s spending goes to things like County Parks, Public Safety and Libraries

Why Cutting Entire Departments Can Backfire

It might sound easy to say, “Just cut the fat” or “Lay off county staff because we can’t afford this.” But here’s what usually happens when large, sudden cuts are made:

• Services slow down or disappear. Road repairs take longer. Permits are delayed. Grant deadlines are missed.

• Departments can’t function safely. Fewer firefighters after a major fire season means slower response times, which can cost lives.

• We lose skilled workers. Once experienced staff leave, they’re hard to replace. This leads to more expensive consultants or costly mistakes later.

• Morale drops, the people who stay feel overworked, uncertain, or resentful…and that impacts service quality.

In short: big cuts feel satisfying in the moment but create bigger problems later. They can even cost more money over time.

So What Can We Do Instead?

There are smarter ways to reduce costs and stretch dollars without putting public safety or essential services at risk. Here are a few ideas that could help:

• Audit contracts and consultant spending. Are we paying too much for outside help we could handle in-house?

• Postpone non-essential capital projects. If something can safely wait a year, let’s hold off and reassess.

• Freeze new hires in low-priority areas. Focus on filling only the most critical roles.

• Shift staff temporarily to departments that are short-handed or overwhelmed.

• Lease instead of buy when it comes to certain equipment or vehicles.

• Make better use of volunteers, grants, and partnerships. We’re a creative county… let’s lean into that.

These aren’t flashy changes, but they can add up to real savings while still preserving the services people rely on.

Budgeting Shouldn’t Be Black and White

A strong county budget doesn’t just say “yes” or “no.” It asks:

• What do people need right now?

• What can wait?

• Where are we wasting time or money?

• What small changes could make a big impact?

It’s about being flexible, realistic, and hopeful. Not reactive or political. We need to be able to shift gears when times are tough, but not abandon our values in the process.

We Deserve More

We all want to live in a county where the roads are safe, the fire trucks show up, the parks are clean, and the people answering the phones at the county office are helpful and not overwhelmed.

That’s not asking for luxury, that’s asking for basic function.

When we understand the budget, where the money comes from, where it goes, and why it matters, we can have better conversations, make smarter decisions, and build a county we’re proud to live in.

Let’s keep asking the right questions. Let’s keep working together.

We deserve nothing less.