RIVERSIDE – (INT) – Riverside County’s 2017-18 budget is still undergoing some fine tuning. But, three weeks after the start of the fiscal year some major decisions are being made.

County Supervisors Tuesday focused on greater economic development investment and increased funding for public safety departments.

Under the revised spending plan, the budget now includes $4 million in general fund support to the Riverside County Economic Development Agency (EDA), up from $3.2 million in the original budget.

At the recommendation of Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, the Board supported adding $17.9 million over what was originally proposed for the Sheriff’s Department budget, which will bolster police protection for residents of unincorporated areas. The revised budget also increases access to justice, with increases of $6.1 million to the District Attorney’s office and $4.4 million to the Public Defender’s office.

Sheriff Stan Sniff has complained about the degradation in staffing levels in his department that has damaged the public safety net.

“While it was a difficult budget process, we worked with the county team, listened to our district residents and put together a budget we can build on,” Perez said.

The $5.5 billion county budget will be considered for final adoption in September.

Story Date: July 30, 2017