Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tuolumne County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 issues in taxes budget with critical priority
County Workforce Vacancy Crisis and Retention
The county is running a persistent ~16% vacancy rate, lost about 100 employees in 2025 mostly over pay, and faces an 11.2% health premium hike in January. The Sheriff and DA warned of a shrinking candidate pool, and an employee publicly resigned over a contract she called a pay cut.
FY 2026-2027 county budget
HHSA warned the governor's May revision cuts CalFresh and Medi-Cal administration, shifts costs to counties, and leaves indigent care unfunded — meaning counties may be asked to do more with less next fiscal year.
FY 2026-27 recommended budget
The county's next-year budget still leans on about $2.1 million of fund balance for ongoing operations, adds $725,000 for roads, and funds moving out of leased space. Supervisors sparred over fire cuts, soft tourism tax revenue, and the lack of staffing for big economic development projects.