Hearing scheduled for Tuesday meeting

The Butte County Board of Supervisors and county staff have set a public hearing for 10 a.m. Tuesday surrounding its fiscal year 2022/2023 budget.

The public comment period will give Butte County residents a chance to weigh in on how the money should be handled and where it should go. Additionally, the board will be looking at a recommended budget based on planning from the various departments.

According to the recommended budget, the county is working with a total of $739.8 million and of that, a planned $708.7 million will be divvied up into the following areas:

• Public protection: 30%

• Public assistance: 26%

• Health and sanitation: 17%

• General government: 14%

• Public ways and facilities: 9%

• Contingencies: 2%

• Education and recreation: 1%

• Debt service: 1%

In terms of revenue, Butte County is expecting just short of $691 million, most of which comes from the federal and state levels.

Along with the public hearing for the budget, the board will be discussing a potential ballot item for a parcel and structure tax to help fund Butte County libraries. The item is at the request of Chairman Bill Connelly and Supervisor Doug Teeter.

The board will be looking at a recommended budget.

Over the last eight years, the overall annual costs for Library operations have fluctuated from approximately $3 million to $4.5 million per year or an average of $3.6 million. Salary and benefits make up 50—60% of the operating budget,” the staff report states.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors generally meets at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at its chambers located at 25 County Center Drive, Suite 205 in Oroville. Meetings are free and open to the public.