Sonoma County leaders are bracing for a “topsy-turvy” financial future as they look toward 2026.
According to the Press Democrat, at their final meeting of the year, budget officials warned of a looming $4.7 million deficit. The crunch is driven by a “perfect storm”: skyrocketing insurance premiums—up as much as 23%—and shifting federal policies under the Trump administration that threaten funding for housing and healthcare.
County leaders say they can no longer assume the “cavalry” is coming from Sacramento to bridge the gap. With federal grants for food and homelessness in flux, the Board will meet again on January 6th to decide how to protect the local safety net without draining emergency reserves.
