Nevada County Supervisors Adopt 2026-2027 Priorities on Housing, Economy and Emergency Preparedness

County priorities adopted

Nevada County’s Board of Supervisors has adopted eight priority objectives for the July 2026 to June 2027 fiscal year as part of the county’s budget planning process.

The objectives are fiscal stability and core services, emergency preparedness, housing, economic development, recreation economy, homelessness, climate resilience, and a new focus for this year: arts and tourism.

According to the county, the objectives are intended to respond to community needs, reflect public input, and build on progress from prior years.

New emphasis on arts, tourism, and broadband

Supervisor Chair Lisa Swarthout, who advocated earlier this year to add arts and tourism as an official objective, said the county has a highly engaged arts community and has heard that arts and tourism should be a priority. She said making it an official objective will help the county leverage and support work already underway.

The county also updated how it describes two existing areas of focus. Economic development now includes broadband, reflecting the role of high-speed internet in workforce development and local economic growth.

Recreation has been renamed “recreation economy” to better capture the contribution of recreational tourism and to clarify that the county’s role is to support those activities rather than provide organized recreation in the way special districts in unincorporated areas or cities do.

Budget context and public participation

Fiscal stability and core services remain the county’s top priority and are the main focus of the annual budget. The county said core services account for about 90% of budgeted expenses and include public safety, roads and infrastructure, the jail, health and safety net services, and animal control.

County Chief Fiscal Officer Erin Mettler said fiscal stability and core services are central to county operations, adding that without stable finances the county would not have the resources to advance priorities such as vegetation management, workforce development, or housing projects. While county finances remain stable, the county said future challenges could emerge from uncertain impacts of state and federal cuts.

Each year, the Board of Supervisors identifies annual priorities during a January workshop and later adopts them at a regular meeting. The objectives then guide county operations, programs, services, and the 2026-2027 budget.

Upcoming workshops and hearings

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a two-day budget workshop on April 28 and 29 in the Board Chambers at the Nevada County Government Center, 950 Maidu Ave. in Nevada City. A public budget hearing will follow on June 9.

Community members can comment in person at the start of the first day of the workshop, call 530-270-3474 during that comment period, or submit comments by email to BOS.PublicComment@nevadacountyca.gov before budget adoption in June.

The county also plans to host budget “Coffee Chat” sessions starting in April during the lunch hour. More information is available at www.nevadacountyca.gov/boardobjectives and www.nevadacountyca.gov/budget.