Nevada County Urges Congress to Keep Money Flowing to County Amid Federal Budget Cuts

On March 25, 2025, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution urging Congress to preserve local core services and secure county representation on federal forums driven, in part, by fears that federal funding cuts could slash the County’s $151.6 million staff salary and benefits budget.

Budget indicates that County spends about $184,000 per employee

The County’s Fiscal Year 2024/25 budget, adopted as Resolution 24-358 on June 25, 2024, totals $388 million, with 45.8%—or $167 million—sourced from federal and state intergovernmental funds. This revenue currently supports current 908 full-time equivalent positions delivering services to its citizens, but recent federal actions threaten this pipeline, prompting urgent advocacy by the Board. Based on the above numbers, Nevada County spends about $184,000 per active County employee in its salary and benefits line item, a figure which will continue to increase.

Nevada County’s complete reliance on federal funding for these services and staff compensation amplifies the stakes. Discretionary revenues offer little buffer against cuts to the $167 million in federal and state aid while losing tax-exempt municipal bonds could cripple infrastructure funding tied to salaries.

The Board’s 2025 “Fiscal Stability and Core Services” priority, reinforced by Resolution 24-358, drives this call to action. By the proposed resolution, the Supervisors directed staff to press federal delegates—Congressman Kevin Kiley, Senators Alex Padilla, and Adam Schiff—for workforce reinstatement and funding stability, opposing cuts that jeopardize payroll and services. Collaboration with other state entities aims to protect the County’s salaried workforce, ensuring the $388 million budget—built on federal reliance—holds firm against fiscal uncertainty in Washington, D.C.

County’s budget has nearly doubled since 2013

Over the past 12 years, the County’s budget has ballooned from $200 million to nearly $400 million while reliance on federal and state funding has increased dramatically from $77 million in 2013 to $167 million last year. Over the same period, the County increased its number of employees from 773 to 872—a 13% increase—with the vast majority of employees being hired since COVID.

Supervisor Hall blasts Trump administration for federal spending cuts

Board chair Heidi Hall from Nevada City, alleged that the cuts to federal spending were hurting local residents but provided no examples or evidence in support. She also chastised the Trump administration for slashing federal spending which the administration asserts are an effort to root out fraud, waste, and abuse.

Robb Tucker abstains on proposed resolution

Supervisor Robb Tucker, supervisor from Alta Sierra and who abstained from the vote on the resolution, stated that it seemed to him that the resolution was duplicative, evidenced an underlying partisan political agenda, and not within the Board’s purview as a federal issue and contrary to the Board’s decorum policy. Tucker pointed out that, in addition to the advocacy of the Board who talks to the federal representatives, the Board also pays Paragon Government Relations with local taxpayer dollars to lobby on its behalf for federal tax dollars in Washington, D.C. Pursuant to County chief executive office Alison Lehman’s request, the County will pay this lobbying firm nearly a quarter of a million in taxpayer dollars over the course of the next three years.

Hardy Bullock, supervisor from Truckee, countered Tucker’s assertion regarding the Supervisors’ decorum policy stating that the proposed resolution, which advocates for federal funding budget maintenance, which is outside the jurisdiction of the County, does not violate the County’s decorum resolution. The decorum resolution provides as follows: “No items shall be placed on the agenda that are beyond the subject matter jurisdiction of the County of Nevada or the authority of a California county.” 

Tucker also opined that the proposed resolution fails to acknowledge federal waste, fraud, and abuse in connection with federal tax expenditures and that attacking cuts without acknowledging fraud and abuse is like “trying to kill the chemotherapy rather than killing the cancer.”

Local resident tells Supervisors that County compensation is out of control

Michael Taylor, local Nevada City resident and former candidate for supervisor, echoed Tucker’s statements during public comment in connection with abuse pointing out Heidi Hall had two full-time government jobs for a period after she was elected to her supervisor position in contrast to the grand jury’s finding that the job of supervisor is a full-time position. Taylor also pointed out that over 30 County employees are getting paid more than the sheriff. Taylor concluded that County payroll is out of control and suggested that the County freeze benefits and pay raises while offering County staff six-month severance to offset shortages coming up. Taylor also suggested that any one on probationary employment be terminated, because the County cannot afford the increase in payroll. As a solution Taylor proposed a citizens’ committee to oversee and be part of the upcoming negotiation related to senior executive staff pay.

The resolution ended up passing 4-0 with Tucker’s abstention.

Public comment delves into Palestinian conflict and illegal immigration

Also, during public comment, a man named Zach told the Board that neither the sheriff nor any County agency should aid or assist ICE in connection with the enforcement deportation of any illegal immigrants. Zach also argues that the County should guarantee public benefits to all illegal immigrants.

Shirley Osgood of Grass Valley, who was recently sentenced to jail after being found guilty of two-counts of unauthorized entry onto a military installation, Beale Air Force Base, seconded Zach’s sentiment but “could not move on from the issue that burns in her heart,” the Palestinian conflict. Shirley, who has now been convicted twice for trespassing at Beale AFB, alleges that she spent five hours trying to talk to Congressman Kevin Kiley, called him on the phone to no avail, and even “stood on the street.” She told the Board that she attended the Indivisible Nevada County meeting, at which Board Chair Heidi Hall spoke, but never heard about Gaza and Palestine and told the Board that she does not want any taxpayer dollars to be used to pay for a war in the Middle East.

Don Frazer, also from Nevada City, asked for a local resolution regarding a cease fire and arms embargo in connection with the Palestinian conflict. 

Jeffrey Gottesman, who also has recently alleged that the elections of 2000, 2004, and 2016 were stolen, told the Board that the “Holocaust in Gaza” has resumed and that the supervisors are “missing in action” and need to pass a resolution in support of not using our tax dollars in connection with the Palestinian conflict. He told the supervisors that they need to get out of the local idea of what their jobs are and get involved internationally.