Riverside County approves $10.3B budget with a hiring freeze

Riverside County: The Board of Supervisors approved a $10.3 billion budget for fiscal 2026-27, splitting the bulk across $3.1 billion for health services, $2.4 billion for public safety, $2 billion for human services, and $1.1 billion for public works. County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen framed it as a shift from years of fast revenue growth to a stretch needing fiscal discipline, with costs outrunning discretionary revenue.

To hold core services without broad layoffs, the county imposed a hiring freeze across departments that draw discretionary revenue, set maximum fill rates for mission-critical roles, and tapped reserves to backstop the sheriff, district attorney, and assessor-clerk-recorder. The board also added $27.4 million in targeted spending, including $5 million for shovel-ready affordable housing, $1.5 million for Lift to Rise, $7.4 million for sheriff's security software, and $1.4 million for senior meal delivery.