Board of Supervisors 5/5/2026

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors held a meeting on May 5, 2026, which included extensive discussions on budgetary matters, procurement, and county projects. Key procurement-related topics included approval of budget adjustments and allocations for various county departments, including funding for road maintenance projects in Casper, Redwood Valley, and Potter Valley. The board reviewed and approved strategic hiring requests for vacant positions across departments, with assurances that some positions would not impact the general fund. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Ameresco solar energy project, where the board discussed revised cash flow projections excluding investment tax credits and ultimately decided not to pursue the current project proposal. Instead, they appointed a new ad hoc committee to explore alternative solar energy options on county properties, potentially in partnership with Sonoma Clean Power. The board also addressed delinquent cannabis business taxes, approving a plan to write off uncollectible taxes from 2018-2019, offer amnesty on interest and penalties, and restructure the tax system by eliminating the true-up minimum tax starting in 2026 and setting a 2.5% tax rate from 2027 onward. The meeting included presentations on the county's fiscal year 2025-2026 third quarter budget update and the preliminary fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, highlighting positive revenue projections, strategic use of one-time funds, and plans for infrastructure and system reserves. The board unanimously approved the budget recommendations and related financial policies. Public comments addressed concerns about living wages for county employees and the impact of cannabis taxes on small cultivators. Overall, the meeting demonstrated the board's focus on fiscal stewardship, infrastructure investment, and regulatory adjustments to support county operations and community needs.