Proposed 2026-27 Budget

Overall Budget Summary

The Proposed Budget decreases staffing by 3.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to 132.0 FTE positions and includes negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $35,828,985, funded by revenues of $23,697,249 and a General Fund Contribution of $12,131,736, which includes a one-time use of General Fund Adult/Pretrial and Juvenile trust balances of $3,592,136.

Total expenses decrease by $1,873,056 compared to the prior year. This decrease was largely driven by a $1,835,800 reduction in community-based professional services from the expiration of Proposition 47 and Title II STAR grant funding and a $3,326,420 increase in transfers-in from restricted funds. These decreases are partially offset by a $2,412,726 increase in negotiated salary and benefit costs, a $429,480 increase in data processing costs, and a $403,243 increase in payments to the Health Services Agency for medical and behavioral health care.

Total revenues decrease by $2,294,407 primarily due to a $1,949,267 reduction from the expiration of Proposition 47 grant funding, a $233,300 decrease in federal funding largely from reduced Title II Formula grants, and an $882,539 decrease in departmental charges for services. These reductions are partially offset by a $302,684 increase in State juvenile probation funding and a $395,000 increase in federal Medi-Cal Administrative Activities reimbursements.

The net result of the Proposed Budget is an overall net increase of $421,351, funded by an increase in General Fund Contribution and one-time use of restricted fund balance.

Probation

The Proposed Budget recommends a reduction of staffing to 101.0 FTE positions, a reduction of 3.0 FTE positions, and includes negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $ 26,568,772, funded by revenues of $ 21,083,719 and a General Fund Contribution of $ 5,485,053, which includes a one-time use of General Fund Adult/Pretrial trust balances of $2,710,399.

Total expenses decrease by $1,804,763 compared to the prior year. This decrease was largely driven by the expiration of $1,200,000 in Proposition 47 CAFES Cohort III Grant expenses and a decrease of $2,301,676 in intrafund transfers. These reductions are offset by an increase of $1,750,538 in negotiated salary and benefit increases.

Total revenues decrease by $1,575,182 primarily due to the expiration of $1,200,000 in Proposition 47 CAFES Cohort III Grant revenue.

Juvenile Hall

The Proposed Budget recommends status quo staffing of 31.0 FTE positions and includes negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $9,260,213, funded by revenues of $2,613,530 and a General Fund Contribution of $6,646,683, which includes a one-time use of General Fund Juvenile trust balances of $881,737.

Total expenses decrease by $68,293 compared to the prior year. This decrease was largely driven by a decrease of $245,062 in various services and supplies and a decrease of $756,580 in intrafund transfers. These reductions are offset by increases of $662,188 in negotiated salary and benefit increases and $273,243 in required medical and behavioral health services for youth in custody, ensuring compliance and timely access to care.

Total revenues decrease by $719,225 primarily due to a decrease of $882,538 in State health funding.

Proposition 36 Implementation Impacts: Proposition 36, approved in November 2024, increases felony filings and mandates treatment-based probation for certain drug and theft offenses, expanding the department’s workload. The measure increases demand across supervision, case management, pretrial services, and investigations, reversing prior workload reductions associated with Proposition 47 and increasing Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 109. Additional requirements for case investigations and reporting further increase workload demands. Caseloads are expected to exceed current staffing capacity, requiring service prioritization and potentially additional resources, though the full impact remains uncertain. Early impacts include increased pretrial workload, with 46 individuals receiving pretrial services for Proposition 36-related offenses as of August 2025, including 15 on electronic monitoring.

Juvenile Hall Facility Improvements: The department is implementing major facility and program improvements that began in May 2025, including construction of a multi-purpose gymnasium, implementation of the Seed to Table and Culinary Programs, and renovations to the Juvenile Hall facility funded through Senate Bill 81 Round 1 and Round 2 grants. Unanticipated construction costs and project delays impact implementation timelines. Ongoing construction activities also limit access to shared workspaces, resulting in prolonged staff displacement and reduced operational efficiency. Construction and renovation activities are currently projected to be completed in early 2027, though timelines may be subject to change.

Proposition 47 Grant Funding: Proposition 47 (Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act of 2014) provides grant funding for community-based services supporting individuals in the criminal legal system with substance use and mental health needs. The department received nearly $12 million from the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for the 2019-2026 period and allocated most of these funds to community-based providers. With funding projected to be fully expended by mid-2026, service coordination is expected to decrease, reducing access to treatment and support services. While California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) mitigates some impacts, services remain limited to Medi-Cal eligible individuals. The loss of this funding creates a gap in services that support stability and reduce recidivism and may increase demand on Probation and other County systems.

Senate Bill 678 Funding Formula: The Senate Bill (SB) 678 funding estimator projects funding levels tied to evidence-based practices in probation. Funding levels are influenced by external factors outside the department’s control, including prosecutorial practices, plea agreements, and judicial decisions. Potential reductions in funding limit resources for programs that support recidivism reduction and client stabilization, particularly for individuals with mental health and substance use needs. Unfunded mandates, increasing workloads, and resource constraints further contribute to uncertainty and may affect program effectiveness and public safety outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence in Service Delivery: The department is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve administrative efficiency and service delivery. Potential applications include report preparation, case summaries, scheduling, and data analysis to support informed supervision and early intervention. While AI may improve efficiency and enhance service delivery, implementation requires careful consideration of confidentiality, legal requirements, and potential bias. Ensuring appropriate safeguards and compliance standards remains critical prior to broader adoption.

Staffing Capacity and Workload Pressures: Ongoing staffing vacancies and the expiration of grant-funded positions reduce operational capacity across multiple divisions. Vacancies in Juvenile Services and Adult Probation increase administrative and supervisory workload for existing staff, which may delay case processing, statutory case sealing timelines, and report completion, and reduce responsiveness to court and client needs. The expiration of Proposition 47 funding eliminates a key administrative position, limiting coordination with community partners and support for diversion and reentry services. These combined impacts affect service efficiency, compliance timelines, and overall program effectiveness.