County Budget
Budget
- View the FY 2025-2026 Nevada County Adopted Budget
- View the FY 2024-2025 Nevada County Adopted Budget
- View the archive of past years’ budget documents
Other Key Documents
- FY 2025-2026 Budget in Brief
- FY 2025-2026 Budget Policies
- FY 2025-2026 Consolidated Fee Schedule
- Road Maintenance and Capital Improvement Plan
- Capital Facilities Master Plans
- Information and Communication Technology Strategic Plans
- Nevada County Demographic and Statistical Profile
County Executive Officer FY 2025-2026 Budget Message
We are proud to release this balanced budget, which is a reflection of the community’s voice. It represents the work we’re doing together to help our residents thrive and be better prepared for the future. Under the leadership and policy direction of the Board of Supervisors, we are strategically focusing on eight key areas to drive impactful outcomes: emergency preparedness, economic growth, expanding broadband, strengthening climate resilience, addressing housing and homelessness, enhancing recreation, and maintaining vital public services.
We’ve built this budget with input gathered directly from the public—at events, in meetings, and through ongoing dialogue. We’re grateful for those who have continued to engage, challenge, and inspire us as we work to meet the needs of all County residents.
This year, we are navigating changes in federal policy, funding priorities and regulatory frameworks. While the full impact of these shifts will unfold over time, the County remains committed to adapting responsibly and planning proactively. Given uncertainty in federal funding, the Board of Supervisors is taking a prudent fiscal approach. As always, our focus remains on meeting local needs, maintaining stability in core services and ensuring that we continue to serve our residents with transparency, efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
We have been recognized statewide for our efficient use of resources to address community problems. In 2024, California State Association of Counties (CSAC) awarded Nevada County an Innovation Award for our system of serving seriously mentally ill individuals in the criminal justice system. The District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation and Behavioral Health offices worked collaboratively to identify defendants who are unable to understand the court process or assist in their own defense due to mental illness. Then, the team proactively seeks out treatment options. In addition, CSAC gave us a Challenge Award for our Veterans Outreach and Wellness Program, which focuses on preventing veteran suicide, ending veteran homelessness, providing pathways to employment and fostering community engagement.
In addition, our Auditor-Controller has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Excellence in Financial Reporting Award and our Human Resources Department was honored in August with the International City/County Management Association’s Veterans Recognition Award for supporting veterans in the workforce.
Emergency preparedness remains at the forefront of our minds year-round as we are always on guard against wildfires. We are focused on three main projects: removing hazardous vegetation from County-maintained roads, offering disposal options for green waste and large-scale vegetation management efforts such as the Woodpecker Ravine and Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone projects. We received the 2025 Excellence in Public Information and Communications Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) for our Ready Nevada County video campaign, which helps residents to prepare for wildfire. We know there is much more work to be done and we are up for the challenge.
We continue to work on expanding housing options, including allowing tiny homes on wheels to be used as permanent residences and easing regulations on rural owner-built homes, reducing costs for homeowners. After conducting a market analysis, we have also identified housing as a possible option for our historic courthouse once the state vacates it in 2031.
I am appreciative of Erin Mettler, Nevada County’s new Chief Fiscal Officer, who keeps fiscal stability at the forefront of her work. The budget team of Barry Anderson and Sarah Holyhead, along with our SkillBridge intern Ben Findley, and temporary interim budget analysts Ellen Glass and Mindy Trygg, also dedicated countless hours to this year’s budget.
Thanks also to supporting CEO staff Patrick Eidman, Lynn Hodson, Taylor Wolfe, Lisa Renner, Jenny Comperda, and Risk Management staff Brittni Inks and Kelly McKinley, and the many high-performing fiscal personnel throughout the organization.
We also honor the work of the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Subcommittee, Chair Heidi Hall and Vice Chair Lisa Swarthout, for their generous commitment of time reviewing budgets with serious scrutiny, careful analysis, and deep caring for the community.
Our fiscal policies, established more than a decade ago, have proven to be effective and have positioned us to face uncertainty with resilience and flexibility. As we look ahead, that steady, long-term perspective continues to guide our decisions.
Respectfully submitted,
Alison Lehman
County Executive Officer