Orange County seeks public input on 2026 Strategic Financial Plan

The Orange County Budget & Finance Office has opened a public comment period for its 2026 Strategic Financial Plan (SFP). The five-year plan is designed to evaluate competing needs, forecast future costs, and develop funding recommendations. As part of the ‘Let’s Talk Budget: Orange You Ready?’ campaign, the county has released educational videos in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese to assist residents in understanding the budgeting process.

While the county is seeking community input through September 20, 2026, critics have raised concerns regarding the transparency of existing budget documents. Observers have noted that despite the length of the adopted budget, specific line items—such as those for OC Animal Care—remain vague, often grouping significant expenditures into broad categories like ‘Services & Supplies’ or ‘Other Charges’ without providing granular detail on overtime, staffing types, or contractor costs.