Shasta County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Shasta County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Social Services Fund shortfall
The social services department is running a negative cash balance because state and federal funding — including impacts from HR1 federal cuts — has shrunk. The county loaned up to $10 million to keep it afloat, and staff floated voluntary furloughs, overtime cuts, and closing the California Street office.
Renewal of audit services contract
The district must have annual compliance audits under state law, and the board was asked to keep using CliftonLarsonAllen — the same firm the county uses — for five more years at up to $54,600 total.
County Counsel employment agreement fails
Supervisors failed to renew County Counsel Joseph Larmour's contract for a new four-year term, leaving his current agreement in place until it expires. Dissenting supervisors cited the early timing of the extension and an 18-month severance package.
Public Works / Resource Management merger rejected by analysis
Staff studied merging the two departments and recommended against it, finding no cost savings and no other county that combines all those services.
Opposition to AB 1383 pension legislation
Even though Governor Newsom vetoed AB 1383, the county wants its opposition on record because the bill would have raised pension costs for public employers, including safety employees. Supervisors split 3-2 on whether to send the letter now or gather more law enforcement input first.
November 2026 election consolidation
Dozens of cities, schools, and districts will share the November 3, 2026 ballot, each paying their share of election costs.
Siskiyou County solid waste parcel charges
Castle Rock area residents keep paying the $72.45 annual parcel charge for Siskiyou County waste disposal — the only option available in that northern pocket of the county.
State election bills AB 2604 and SB 1420
The board declined 3-2 to endorse two state election bills — one on ballot curing and one letting mail ballots be counted same-day at polling places — citing election security and unpaid state mandates.
FY 2026-27 Air Quality Management District budget
The air district's budget for the coming fiscal year was adopted, funding local air-quality monitoring and programs for the year ahead.
Air Pollution Control Board operating policies and CEO contracting authority
The board modernized its own rules of procedure and considered — but held off on — letting the county's top executive sign routine air-district agreements. That delegation would cut down on agenda items but first requires a look at a 1994 agreement between the county and the air district.
Victim Witness program funding gap
The DA's Victim Witness program ran a $235,057 hole because the state was slow to reimburse, and the board retroactively covered it from the General Fund while pressing the state to pay up.
FY 2026-27 county budget adoption
The county's spending plan for the coming fiscal year is now formally adopted after three days of public hearings, setting services, staffing levels, and salary schedules effective June 28, 2026.
Responsible AI use resolution
A resolution sponsored by Supervisor Plummer would commit the county to using AI to boost services and offset staff shortages, with privacy and human oversight safeguards. It got pushed to the next meeting so the county's IT chief could weigh in.
Filling elected department head vacancies
A second November ballot measure would change how the county fills unexpected mid-term vacancies in elected department head positions, including requiring a 4/5 board vote for appointments.
Artificial Intelligence Use in County Government
A proposed resolution commits the County to using AI carefully — to help understaffed departments and cut administrative load — with privacy safeguards and human oversight. It was pushed to June 23 for further discussion.
County Vacancies and Recruitment
Scott Pewitt was nominated by Supervisor Plummer for the District 4 seat; the formal appointment will come back to the Board later for a term running to January 2029.
FY 2026-27 County Budget
The Board spent three days going department by department through next year's budget. Supervisors added attorney retention bonuses funded by reserve interest, an unfrozen code enforcement position, and AI software for prosecutors and public defenders. Rising litigation, healthcare, and insurance costs are squeezing the county.
Non-profit Funding Requirements
Supervisors voted 3-2 to put a discussion on the June 8 agenda about an ordinance that would set requirements for nonprofits receiving county money.
Attorney retention bonuses
The county will pay $10,000 retention bonuses to attorneys in the DA, Public Defender, and County Counsel offices, funded from interest on general reserves. Supervisor Long also wants multi-year funding and brought a plan for $30,000 bonuses over three years.
Non-profit administrative cost limits
Supervisors want an ordinance requiring any non-profit that takes county money to keep admin costs under 18% of revenue. County Counsel flagged that some versions would need voter approval as a Charter amendment, and staff suggested the contracting policy might be a better route. Nothing is final yet.
Strategic Plan goals
The county now has a five-year strategic plan laying out goals and milestones across county services — but adopting it doesn't commit any money, and each project still needs separate budget approval.
Election vendor contracts
The Board renewed nearly $4 million worth of election services contracts — ballot printing (Runbeck), ballot sorting maintenance, Hart InterCivic support, and DFM election software. Chair Kelstrom pulled the print contract to clarify it's fee-for-service, meaning the county doesn't have to use Runbeck.
State legislation affecting rural counties
The Board took positions on dozens of bills — supporting wildfire mitigation, rural home loans, and prescribed fire liability measures, while opposing bills on EV taxes, short-term rentals, and other measures members see as burdensome for rural counties.
Ag Remodel & Building Addition construction contract
The county awarded a $1.96 million construction contract to Gifford Construction for the Ag Remodel & Building Addition at 1265 Redwood Blvd.
Assessment Appeals Board appointments
Two members and four alternates were appointed to the quasi-judicial board that hears property assessment appeals — the body residents turn to when disputing their property valuations.
County labor agreements
The Board approved new two-year contracts for several county employee units, including Teamsters bargaining groups and a Sheriff's Administration correction fixing lieutenant certification pay.
SB 707 open meetings compliance and public comment rules
New state law requires counties to offer remote participation in meetings by July 2026. The county bought the PublicInput software and tweaked its meeting policy — and a bid to extend the total public comment window from 20 to 30 minutes failed.
Fall River Valley CSD annexation tax exchange
The Board set how property tax revenue will be split when unincorporated territory joins the Fall River Valley Community Services District — with the county keeping 100% of its share and the CSD getting 0% of county-allocated revenue.
Sheriffs' Administration Association labor agreement
A successor two-year MOU with sheriff's administration staff boosts pay, including larger POST certificate incentives for sworn managers.