Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Solano County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
32 issues in taxes budget
SEIU Unit 7 dispatcher pay increase
911 dispatchers got an 11.6% market equity raise, pushing entry-level monthly salary to about $6,400-$7,800. This helps the county compete for the people who answer emergency calls.
User fee increases under AB 2380 and AB 2224
Recording a real estate document or registering agricultural pest control just got pricier — fees rise January 4, 2027, because state law changed. The recorder change alone brings in about $335,000.
ARPA fund closeout
The board wrapped up pandemic relief spending, handing the County Administrator authority to close out ARPA and shift any leftover eligible money to the Radio Interoperability Project — better radios for first responders.
First 5 Solano audit
The Board was scheduled to receive the annual audit of the First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026, which funds early childhood health and education programs.
CIF FY2026/27 annual grants and NAMI Solano funding gap
The county's grassroots mental-health nonprofit — serving 1,000 people a year for 40+ years — got nothing from the CIF grants and says it will close within months. Supervisor Mashburn raised concerns about big-budget nonprofits crowding out small ones; a $250,000 emergency fund exists that NAMI can apply to.
2027 Legislative Platforms
The county's advocacy playbook for next year targets HR 1's cost shifts to counties for Medi-Cal and CalFresh, a proposed census rule that could cut California's federal funding, and potential PG&E wildfire-liability legislation — all with real dollar consequences for county services.
OpenGov contract management software
The county plans to spend $2.3 million over nearly five years on software to manage its contracts countywide. Better tracking could mean more transparency in how county money is spent.
FY2026/27 County Budget Adoption
Dr. Eyler's annual index showed resilient job growth but a K-shaped economy where inflation hits lower-income households hardest. Supervisors stressed that a long-promised countywide water/power/broadband infrastructure study is essential before growth can happen.
Nut Tree Airport property litigation
The board unanimously authorized an unlawful detainer lawsuit to recover possession of county property at the Nut Tree Airport. Details were hashed out in closed session.
Registrar of Voters governance change
The county code no longer requires the Chief Information Officer to double as Registrar of Voters, separating the tech job from running elections.
State of the County event
A proposed ticketed Chamber-hosted State of the County breakfast drew concerns about staff time, Brown Act rules and equitable access; the board agreed any future event would not involve the full board.
IHSS caregiver contract
SEIU Local 2015 in-home care providers got a new contract approved unanimously, aimed at recruiting and retaining the caregivers who keep seniors and people with disabilities living at home.
Delinquent solid waste charges and property liens
Unpaid garbage bills in unincorporated Solano County are being converted to special assessments placed on the property tax roll, with a $62 lien fee per parcel. Haulers cleared many accounts before the hearing, but remaining delinquents now face liens.
Green Valley Open Space Maintenance District Assessments
A public hearing on the district's FY2026/27 assessments is set for July 28, 2026. Property owners in the district will have a chance to comment before the levy is finalized.
Business license tax on energy producers and data centers
The board wants to modernize the business license tax on power plants and extraction, and add a tax on data centers — starting at $0.12 per square foot, which several supervisors called too low. They kept one unified ballot measure but continued the item to study taxing air rights and data centers that generate their own power.
Property Tax Appeal Exposure
The county has $8.8 billion in assessed value at risk from 1,300 active property tax appeals — and they're mostly big corporations like Genentech, Tesla, and Solano Town Center, not homeowners. Losing these appeals would cut into the county's main discretionary revenue source.
Federal H.R. 1 impacts on Medi-Cal and CalFresh
The federal H.R. 1 law adds 80-hour monthly work requirements to CalFresh and Medi-Cal, potentially cutting off about 50,780 households from food benefits and up to 27,000 residents from health coverage. The county is hiring 10 eligibility workers, adding $3.8 million in new costs already, and could face up to $14 million in costs as it must care for newly indigent residents under state law.
Transient Occupancy Tax increase on November ballot
Voters will decide in November whether to raise the unincorporated county hotel tax from 5% to 12%. That's money paid mostly by visitors staying at lodging outside city limits — it won't show up on residents' bills, but the revenue could fund county services.
County Attorney Union Contract (Unit 1)
The county finalized a two-plus-year deal with its attorney union through September 2028, including pay parity fixes and a possible wage re-opener in 2028. It affects county legal staffing costs and labor relations going into negotiations with other unions.
FY2026/27 Appropriations Limits (GANN)
The state requires counties to set annual spending ceilings. The countywide limit for next fiscal year is just under $975 million. It's a legal formality, not a budget adoption, but it frames what the county can appropriate.
Federal and State Legislative Update
The county's lobbyists briefed supervisors on the Governor's May Revise budget, Ukraine funding's political sensitivity in Congress, and how federal bridge funding could help replace the Highway 12 bridge near Rio Vista.
Probation Department Cloud Migration
The county is spending $210,000 to move its probation case management system to a secure government cloud, plus $126,250 a year in hosting after the migration and $62,500 for consulting help.
$5 million grant application for Vallejo community center
The county is backing a $5 million Bay Area air quality grant application to fund energy efficiency upgrades at the Rise Vallejo Early Education and Community Resource Center.
SB 707 remote meeting disruption policy
New state law makes counties plan for what happens when Zoom-style meeting access fails mid-meeting — the Board adopted a policy requiring a one-hour recess to restore remote access before continuing.
Accountant-Auditor II classification amendment (CSC 26-0008)
The County's personnel rules for the Accountant-Auditor II job were up for revision, adding supervisory duties over clerical and paraprofessional accounting staff. It shapes the career ladder for six county positions in the Auditor-Controller's Office.
Unit 14 correctional supervisors labor agreement
The board approved a new contract for jail correctional supervisors through October 2028, including side letters on pay parity, wage reopeners, and a classification study.
Ongoing county labor negotiations
Several residents urged the board during public comment over ongoing labor negotiations, especially for In-Home Supportive Services providers who care for disabled and elderly residents at home.
2025 Annual Report of the Civil Service Commission
The commission was scheduled to adopt its 2025 Annual Report, summarizing the year's personnel and civil service oversight activity. It's the public record of how the county's civil service system performed.
Continued registration of employee organizations
The commission was scheduled to approve continued registration of the employee organizations representing county workers. This is the civil service system's routine recognition step that keeps county labor relations functioning.
Unit 16 representation petition for Compliance and Quality Assurance Analysts
The county's mid-management union wants the Compliance and Quality Assurance Analyst classification added to its bargaining unit, which would give those employees union representation in negotiations. The Civil Service Commission has the final say under county labor rules, and HR supports the request.
Annual election of Commission President and Vice President
By civil service rule, the commission must pick its president and vice president at the first meeting of each year — these officers run the meetings and set the tone for how employment appeals and representation questions are handled.
Redevelopment successor agency payment schedules for four cities
The Board was scheduled to review annual Recognized Obligation Payment Schedules and administrative budgets for the former redevelopment agencies of Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Vallejo. These schedules determine which debts the successor agencies will pay in the coming fiscal year.