Board of Supervisors - Budget Workshop (2025-08-06)

Board of Supervisors MINUTES 1 August 6, 2025 County of Inyo Board of Supervisors August 6, 2025 The Board of Supervisors of the County of Inyo, State of California, met in special session at the hour of 9:05 a.m., on August 6, 2025, in the Board of Supervisors Room, County Administrative Center, Independence, with the following Supervisors present: Chairperson Scott Marcellin, presiding, Will Wadelton, Jeff Griffiths, Jennifer Roeser and Trina Orrill. Also present: County Administrator Nate Greenberg, County Counsel John-Carl Vallejo, and Assistant Clerk of the Board Darcy Israel. Pledge of Allegiance Sheriff Rennie led the Pledge of Allegiance. CAO – FY 25-26 Budget Workshop CAO Greenberg, Assistant Director of Budget, thanked the Budget team – including new Budget Analyst Kelsey Gonzalez, as well as department heads and their individual budget teams – for their contributions. Together with Assistant CAO Denelle Carrington and Auditor-Controller Amy Shepherd, Greenberg delivered a comprehensive presentation that walked attendees through the budget process. The overview highlighted the budget philosophy and outlined a detailed timeline for navigating the 2025–2026 Fiscal Year. The budget team identified budget priorities, addressed Board questions on unfunded liabilities and provided examples of funding sources previously used to offset costs. CAO Greenberg provided information on new revenue opportunities, notably the Cannabis Trust Fund, which has grown to $1.5 million and is tied to a moratorium set to expire soon. Agricultural Commissioner Nathan Reade noted that while current fees don’t fully cover program costs, the trust fund continues to grow. Greenberg proposed increasing retailer rates, and County Counsel Vallejo clarified that the existing 5% rate – established in 2020 – can be raised by up to 2.5% annually, not to exceed 12.5%. Auditor-Controller Shepherd added that the discretionary nature of the fund allows for flexible use. CAO Greenberg identified potential impacts from uncertain federal grants and previewed the OpenGov platform, which will generate the FY 2025–26 Budget Book, set for release on August 29. Assistant CAO Carrington expanded on preliminary report data, while Auditor- Controller Shepherd discussed the California Budget Act and emphasized the benefits of using a Fund Balance approach. To address the projected $4.5 million budget gap, CAO Greenberg and Auditor-Controller Shepherd outlined several possible approaches including: leveraging Cannabis Trust funds, implementing mid-year personnel reclassifications, utilizing projected salary savings, freezing vacant positions, reducing Grants in Support and Marketing contributions, scaling back contingency contributions, applying one-time funds, and exploring targeted cuts. Additionally, Auditor-Controller Shepherd referenced the Government Finance Officer’s Association’s (GFOA), recommendation that governments reserve two months of General Fund operating costs which is $15.56 million for Inyo, based on the prior year, and said that Inyo’s current reserves total $12.86 million, (including $8.1 million in General Reserves and $4.76 million in the Economic Stabilization Fund). Auditor-Controller Shepherd praised the Board's fiscal responsibility and foresight and noted the $1.59 million contribution made in FY 2023–24. Recess/Reconvene CAO Greenberg asked if there were any questions or comments and with no one wishing to speak, Chairperson Marcellin recessed for a break at 10:22 a.m. and reconvened the workshop at 10:30 a.m. with all Board members present.

Board of Supervisors MINUTES 2 August 6, 2025 CAO – FY 25-26 Budget Workshop (continued) Assistant Personnel Director Keri Oney presented an update on departmental initiatives affecting the County budget and highlighted the near completion of the Classification and Compensation Study with Evergreen Solutions. She emphasized the final phase – job description reviews – and discussed ongoing updates to Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including expiration timelines and labor negotiations. Assistant Personnel Director Oney also stressed the importance of following established policies for Personnel Change Requests to maintain budget alignment and position consistency. Assistant Personnel Director Oney discussed departmental restructures in the District Attorney and Public Works offices, highlighting potential cost savings. She recommended deferring department-requested reclassifications to mid-year and provided a detailed list of those requests. Supervisor Roeser sought clarification on the necessity of these positions, prompting input from several department heads, including Ag Commissioner Reade, Clerk- Recorder Danielle Sexton, Sheriff Stephanie Rennie, Probation Chief Jeff Thomson, Environmental Health Director Jerry Oser, Health & Human Services Director Anna Scott, and Auditor-Controller Shepherd. Board members acknowledged the need for further budget analysis and requested specific actions from staff including: Budget Team recommendations with justifications for deferred items, exploring alternative funding options, prioritizing reclassification requests submitted before the Evergreen study, and clarifying whether deferred reclassifications would automatically be implemented at mid-year. CAO Greenberg thanked staff and underscored the importance of balancing individual departmental needs with a broader fiscal picture and said he will meet with departments to address ongoing concerns. Assistant Personnel Director Oney emphasized the importance of departmental and union input before finalizing Personnel recommendations and pending MOUs. Auditor-Controller Shepherd committed to providing a district-level breakdown of updated Transient Occupancy Tax District Improvement Funds to support transparency and informed decision-making. Chief Probation Officer Thomson thanked the Board for the encouraged open dialogue, and the CAO reiterated the County’s desire for a collaborative approach to budgeting, acknowledging the need for tough decision-making while also working to find a balance. The CAO reviewed special project funding, stressing strategic use of one-time funds, grant match requirements, and the County’s ability to execute projects. The presentation included a summary of current and anticipated grant opportunities and unfunded departmental requests, excluding facilities and parks. Deputy CAO Meaghan McCamman introduced the proposed FY 2025–26 Deferred Maintenance Projects and detailed priorities and selection criteria. CAO Greenberg noted that the list is still being refined and will be finalized before coming back to the Board. He also highlighted $800,000 in revenue from the joint occupancy agreement with the Superior Court, which helped to offset HVAC expenses and said that future revenue from this pool can be used as seed funding for future courthouse maintenance projects. Supervisor Orrill urged prioritization of the ingress/egress study for community safety, requesting $500,000 in Local Transportation Commission funds to support its continuation. Public Works Director Errante confirmed a kickoff meeting with Caltrans and shared plans to submit a resolution by September 14 to accept a $197,000 grant with a $227,000 County match. Staff were directed to prioritize the project and initiate stakeholder engagement. Supervisor Roeser also questioned the Big Pine visioning process – clarified by Planning Director Richards as a community plan – and asked about the status of the Wildlife Services funding plan, with Inyo’s share estimated at $18,000, partially reimbursable via gas tax. CAO Greenberg noted that many projects lack stable funding but promised a balanced recommendation by the September 9 Board meeting. Chairperson Marcellin concluded the workshop with thanks to all participants.

Board of Supervisors MINUTES 3 August 6, 2025 Adjournment The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:25 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in the County Administrative Center in Independence. Chairperson, Inyo County Board of Supervisors Attest: N A T E G R E E N B E R G C l e r k o f t h e B o a r d by: _____________________________________ Darcy Israel, Assistant