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San Diego County Supervisors OK $5.4 Billion Budget

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved on Tuesday a $5.4 billion budget for fiscal 2016.

The plan that goes into effect July 1 ups spending by 6.1 percent over the current fiscal year, with increases for public safety, the Health and Human Services Agency, public works, libraries and parks.

The health agency and Public Safety Group — which includes the Sheriff's and Probation departments and District Attorney's Office, among others — take up the lion's share of the spending at 37 percent and 31.6 percent, respectively.

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The county plans to spend $2 billion on the Health and Human Services Agency and $1.7 billion for public safety. Health and human services includes public health, aging and independent services, behavioral health and child welfare programs.

Supervisor Dave Roberts commended county staff for allocating dollars where community members have said it's most needed.

"County staff really listened and heard key needs, including emergency response times," Roberts said.

The county's spending on capital expenses, which fluctuates wildly from year to year depending on when projects are ready to come off the drawing board, will climb by $55.5 million, or 66.2 percent, to $141 million.

The county, which budgets in two-year cycles, also projects spending $5.1 billion in fiscal 2017, according to a staff report.