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MONDAY, MAY 11-MAY 17, 2026
Proposed county budget focuses on strategic investments amid economic uncertainty By Joe Taglieri
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he San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors received a detailed update during a budget workshop Tuesday that outlined a proposed financial strategy, longterm financial forecast and targeted investments as the upcoming fiscal year looms amid a climate of economic uncertainty and dwindling tax revenue. Officials expect the board to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget following a hearing June 9. CEO Luther Snoke and Chief Financial Officer Matthew Erickson led the presentation. The county’s top financial officials said the focus would remain on prudent budgeting, maintaining stable public services while bracing for a an economic slowdown. “When we budget prudently and position ourselves appropriately for the environment, we’re able to provide stable and consistent community services,” Snoke said. Economic headwinds Officials noted emerging financial pressures facing local governments, including slower growth rates for assessed property value, uncertainty about the availability of federal and state grant funding, economic impacts resulting from geopolitical risks, litigation costs and increasing law enforcement liability exposure at times resulting in multimillion-dollar lawsuit payouts. After nearly a decade of annual assessed valuation growth averaging 6.8%, officials expect significantly slower property tax growth of around 2.23% in 2026-27 — the lowest projected growth rate since 2012. The county is also keeping close watch on the potential impacts of federal House Resolution 1, or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The Board of Supervisors conducts a hearing Tuesday on the proposed 2026-27 county budget. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County
that includes an estimated $10.7 million ongoing-cost increase associated with CalFresh administration and an additional $10 million set aside for future federal funding uncertainties. Added to the federal pressures, officials continue to prepare for rising costs associated with the county’s workforce payroll and public services” • “Up to $228 million ongoing projected for future labor agreements through 2030-31; • “Up to $52.5 million ongoing for mandated human services programs, including foster care, adoptions and In-Home Supportive Services; • “Continued set-aside of $8.7 million ongoing for potential law enforcement and detention needs tied to Proposition 36 impacts.” Five-year forecast Erickson presented the five-year general fund forecast. He said that while the county is projecting a
$32 million ongoing surplus in the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1 and ends June 30, 2027, the future may hold operating deficits if revenue growth continues at the current slow pace. The five-year forecast is designed to identify potential future challenges early while maintaining flexibility to adjust spending priorities as economic conditions evolve, according to the county. “Although we are facing some challenges going into the next several fiscal years, we’ve positioned ourselves through prudent budgeting to address those challenges,” Erickson said. Targeted investments Despite slower growth projections, the county is proposing about $273.7 million in targeted investments for 2026-27. Primarily one-time expenditures, the proposed See Budget Page 23
Riverside County firefighter charged with sexually assaulting 3 women
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joet@beaconmedianews.com
investments include: • $22.3 million to support underserved and vulnerable populations; • $77.2 million for county facility and operational capital improvements; • $57.5 million for technology modernization and county system upgrades; • $27.8 million to address public safety and community concerns; • $43.7 million toward financial security reserves and contingency funding, which includes the law enforcement liability reserve reallocation; • $7.9 million to support land use permitting and advanced planning services; • $5.5 million for community improvement and infrastructure projects; • $26.5 million for various department needs and mandates; • $4.2 million for community
NO. 275
VOL. 12,
By City News Service
51-year-old Riverside County firefighter accused of sexually assaulting three women — including while he was on duty in Temecula — was charged Wednesday with a dozen felony and misdemeanor offenses, including forcible rape and kidnapping to commit rape. David Renteria III of Placentia was originally arrested last month following a sheriff’s department investigation initiated in the fall. Renteria is charged with four counts of forcible rape, two counts of sodomy and one count each of kidnapping to commit rape, forcible oral copulation, assault with intent to commit rape, false imprisonment, sexual battery and indecent exposure, with sentenceenhancing allegations of targeting multiple individuals in sex crimes. The defendant made his initial court appearance
David Renteria III. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who set his formal arraignment for June 12 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. During Wednesday’s hearing, on a prosecution motion based on a pretrial services report, the judge increased the fireman’s bail from $5 million to $7 million. He was being held
See Firefighter charged Page 24
Board OKs $10M in federal funding for housing, homelessness By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com
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he San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved nearly $10 million in federal funding for housing and community development programs for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials said the funds will pay for affordable housing development, neighborhood
infrastructure improvements, homelessness services and public service programs intended to benefit low- and moderate-income residents in the county’s participating 13 cities and unincorporated areas. The spending plan, which the board OK’d with a 5-0 vote without discussion, includes
See Homelessness funding Page 24