Sacramento County proposes cutting nearly 200 open positions amid budget shortfall
Sacramento County officials released a recommended $8.9 billion budget Friday that would eliminate 194.5 positions — made up of mostly open and vacant positions — and reduce spending as the county responds to a projected $101 million shortfall.
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 is 2.8% smaller than the county’s adopted budget for the current fiscal year and comes as supervisors prepare to begin budget hearings June 10 before adopting a final spending plan in September.
County officials projected the $101 million shortfall in January, attributing roughly half of it to anticipated impacts from last year’s HR 1, known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” while citing broader pressure on county finances and declining discretionary reserves.
The county’s available general fund balance is projected at $46 million, down from $73 million the previous year, a decline officials said contributed to the need for spending cuts.
In spite of the workforce reductions, county officials said most departments structured their cuts to avoid layoffs by eliminating vacant positions or positions with vacancies elsewhere in the county. The exception is the District Attorney’s Office, where the proposed budget eliminates 15 positions. County officials noted that while most of those positions were occupied when the reductions were identified, vacancies existed elsewhere in the department within the same classifications.
“I appreciate the leadership and creativity our departments demonstrated throughout this process,” County Executive David Villanueva said in a statement. “Across the organization, teams took a careful look at their operations, identified opportunities to streamline where possible, and eliminated vacant positions that are no longer needed to sustain current service levels.”
Among the largest proposed staffing reductions are 48 positions in the Sheriff’s Office, 38 positions in the Department of Human Assistance, 19 positions in Child, Family and Adult Services, 16 positions in Child Support Services and 15 positions in the District Attorney’s Office.
The budget proposal now heads to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, which will begin public hearings June 10 at 9:30 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 700 H St. County officials encouraged residents to participate in the hearings before supervisors adopt a final budget later this year.
