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File #: 26-0329    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Approval Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 3/17/2026 In control: Executive Office
On agenda: 3/24/2026 Final action:
Title: Discussion and Possible Action Including Approval of Revisions and Renaming of General Reserve and Contingencies Policy No. 32 to "Reserve and Fund Balance Policy No. 32" (Sponsor: Executive Office)
Attachments: 1. Mendocino Reserve and Fund Balance Presentation, 2. 32_General_Reserve_and_Contingencies_current, 3. Mendocino Reserve and Fund Balance Policy_Proposed

To:  BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

From:  Executive Office

Meeting Date:  March 24, 2026

 

Department Contact:  

Darcie Antle

Phone: 

707-463-4441

Department Contact:  

Sara Pierce

Phone: 

707-463-4441

 

Item Type:   Regular Agenda

 

Time Allocated for Item: 15 Minutes

 

 

Agenda Title:

title

Discussion and Possible Action Including Approval of Revisions and Renaming of General Reserve and Contingencies Policy No. 32 to “Reserve and Fund Balance Policy No. 32”

(Sponsor: Executive Office)

End

 

Recommended Action/Motion:

recommendation

Approval of revisions and renaming of General Reserve and Contingencies Policy No. 32 to “Reserve and Fund Balance Policy No. 32”

End

 

Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:

Mendocino County’s General Reserve and Contingencies policy #32 was originally adopted on March 16, 1999. The policy was amended on April 24, 2012. Included in the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, the Executive Office committed to presenting revisions to the County’s Reserve Policy to better reflect current fiscal needs.                      

 

Summary of Request

To address current financial challenges and to strengthen the County’s governance of reserve funds, the Executive Office is recommending the approval of an amended Policy #32 - General Reserve and Contingencies. The amended policy, renamed Reserve and Fund Balance, simplifies the County’s General Fund reserve structure with the creation of three (3) reserves, the Contingency Reserve, the Rainy Day Reserve, and the Infrastructure and Systems Reserve.

 

Contingency Reserve: A general reserve to guard against short-term unanticipated revenue and expenditure changes affecting the annual adopted budget.

 

Rainy Day Emergency Reserve: A stabilization reserve to guard against longer-term impacts resulting from major financial and operations events, including recessions, natural disasters, and other declared emergencies.

 

Infrastructure and Systems Reserve: A reserve to improve the County’s investment in deferred maintenance, systems modernization, and other one-time purposes.

 

The policy further sets target reserve limits and outlines authority for the deposit of funds into each reserve.

 

Alternative Action/Motion:

Provide alternate direction to staff.                     

 

Strategic Plan Priority Designation: An Effective County Government

 

Supervisorial District:  All

                                          

Vote Requirement:  Majority

                                          

 

 

Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A

 

Fiscal Details:

source of funding: N/A

current f/y cost: N/A

budget clarification: N/A

annual recurring cost: N/A

budgeted in current f/y (if no, please describe): N/A

revenue agreement: N/A

AGREEMENT/RESOLUTION/ORDINANCE APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNSEL: N/A

CEO Liaison: Executive Office                                                               

CEO Review: Yes                                            

CEO Comments:

 

FOR COB USE ONLY

Executed By: Deputy Clerk

Final Status: Item Status

Date: Date Executed

Executed Item Type: item

 

Number: