Riverside County Supervisors consider $51.58M budget cleanup

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is set to approve $51.58 million in appropriations to address lingering financial obligations from the previous fiscal year. This “cleanup” budget action is intended to provide the necessary authority to record June invoices and other expenditures that were not identifiable when the 2025-26 fiscal year closed in June.

The allocations will be drawn from General Fund accounts and various agency internal budgets. These funds will cover costs related to indigent defense contracts, the Emergency Management Department, capital improvements, the Office of the Registrar of Voters, and Information Technology Department projects.

County CEO Jeff Van Wagenen confirmed that a hiring freeze initiated last year will continue, alongside targeted spending cuts and controls to mitigate deficit spending. While the board recently adopted a $10.36 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, officials noted that ongoing “budget management” will be required to meet specific needs throughout the current year.