Nevada City, Calif. – Nevada County’s Board of Supervisors adopted eight priority objectives Tuesday for the July 2026-June 2027 fiscal year, aligning with the County’s budget planning process. They include fiscal stability and core services, emergency preparedness, housing, economic development, recreation economy, homelessness, climate resilience, and a new focus this year: arts and tourism.
Supervisor Chair Lisa Swarthout advocated to add this year’s arts and tourism objective earlier this year, noting, “We have a highly engaged arts community, and we’ve heard that arts and tourism should be a priority. Making it an official objective will help the County leverage and support the work already underway.”
The priority objectives aim to respond to the community’s needs, align with community input and build on progress from prior years.
This year, economic development now includes broadband, recognizing the role of high-speed internet in supporting workforce development and local economic growth. Recreation has been renamed “recreation economy” to reflect the contributions of recreational tourism and clarify the County’s role in supporting these activities rather than providing organized recreation like special districts in unincorporated areas or the cities.
Fiscal stability and core services remain the County’s top priority and are the primary focus of the County’s annual budget. Core services account for approximately 90% of the County’s budgeted expenses and include public safety, roads and infrastructure, the jail, health and safety net services and animal control.
While County finances remain stable, potential challenges lie ahead due to unknown impacts of cuts at the state and federal levels. County Chief Fiscal Officer Erin Mettler said, “Fiscal stability and core services are at the heart of what we do here. Without stable finances to support our core services, we wouldn’t have the resources to advance priorities like vegetation management, workforce development, or housing projects.”
The budget process will inform priority objective projects in the upcoming fiscal year. Learn more about the objectives at www.nevadacountyca.gov/boardobjectives.
Help Shape the County Budget
Each year, the Board of Supervisors identifies its annual priorities during a Board Workshop in January, then later adopts them at a regular Board of Supervisor meeting. The objectives guide County operations, programs, and services and inform the 2026-2027 budget.
To provide additional opportunities for public engagement, the Board of Supervisors is holding a two-day Budget Workshop on April 28 and 29 in the Board Chambers at the Nevada County Government Center (950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City). A public Budget Hearing will follow on June 9.
Community members can participate by attending in person and speaking during the start of the first day of the workshop, calling 530-270-3474 during that comment period or submitting comments via email at BOS.PublicComment@nevadacountyca.gov prior to budget adoption in June.
The County will also host several budget “Coffee Chat” sessions starting in April during the lunch hour. These informal drop-in sessions offer an opportunity to ask questions and connect directly with the County staff.
Learn more about the County’s budget process and opportunities to participate, including the Coffee Chat events as they are scheduled, at www.nevadacountyca.gov/budget.