The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors has approved an $8.9 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, providing more funding to the sheriff’s office and restoring previously proposed cuts to the district attorney’s office. The budget also includes reauthorization and expansion of military-style equipment, under state oversight, for the sheriff’s office, prompting sharp criticism from community advocates and a public clash between Supervisor Phil Serna and Sheriff Jim Cooper.
The budget includes $4 billion in general fund appropriations, with the remaining $4.9 billion distributed across enterprise, special revenue, and restricted funds. The sheriff’s office received a $2.1 million increase, bringing its total annual allocation to more than $700 million excluding federal grant funds. The additional funding will support three new deputy positions and expanded staffing for the office’s acute psychiatric unit.
In a separate vote, the board approved the sheriff’s 2025 Military Equipment Annual Report and acquisition plan under Assembly Bill 481, which requires law enforcement agencies to seek annual reauthorization and report on the use, purpose, and public safety impact of military-grade equipment…