BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The preliminary budget recommendations for the next fiscal year are set to be brought to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for public discussion Tuesday.
A final budget hearing is set for 9 a.m. June 30, where the public can provide input on the budget recommendations and any updates regarding year-end estimates or state impacts prior to the budget’s final adoption.
The preliminary budget is set at $4.1 billion as of early May, according to the regular meeting agenda. The county is estimating $594.1 million in discretionary revenue, expected to increase by $8.9 million from the current year.
About $19.4 million is expected for carryforward, which is the revenue collected and amounts not spent by the end of the fiscal year and can be used in the next one, according to the agenda.
According to the UCLA Anderson California Forecast, counties with substantial employment in construction, leisure and hospitality, and agriculture are seeing rising unemployment.
Kern County is also experiencing uncertainties due to less sales tax receipts from reduced clean energy construction, lagging oil-property tax growth despite increased permitting and fluctuations in its defense and industrial sectors.
Officials said while revenue isn’t projected to decline, growth is minimal and increased costs are expected due to upcoming labor negotiations, rising liability claims, federal policy changes, expiration of the American Rescue Plan Act funding and more.
The county is recommending deleting or keeping vacant 123 positions across all departments to save about $16.5 million, the agenda read.
The budget is proposing $61,021,830 in spending for Measure K-funded initiatives next fiscal year. No new initiatives are being proposed.
Measure K programs address community priorities such as maintaining law enforcement and fire services and recruiting officers, preventing thefts, addressing mental health and addiction challenges, repairing roads, revitalizing areas, increasing spay and neuter programs and more.
The Kern County Coroner’s Office requested $39 million, but county staff expressed reluctance in the agenda, saying giving one department this much funding would “significantly limit” Kern’s ability to support other essential services.
Kern Public Health, which is significantly impacted by federal and state funding reductions, is expected to eliminate 20 vacant positions to save $2,540,000, the agenda said.
The department is also going to face increased costs due to Senate Bill 525, which requires wage increases for healthcare workers, county staff said.
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In terms of departmental impact, county staff said the Department of Human Services is affected the most as it is set to delete 48 vacant positions, among other actions, to save $15 million.
County staff aren’t recommending any major maintenance or capital project until final cost estimates for the budget are completed.
The Board is scheduled to discuss and provide direction on the preliminary budget recommendations during its 9 a.m. meeting Tuesday at 1115 Truxtun Ave.
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