By City News Services, 10 News, May 2, 2016

The Board of Supervisors will be presented Tuesday with a proposed $5.35 billion budget for the county of San Diego’s upcoming fiscal year.

The total represents a 1.2 percent decrease from the current spending plan.

The budget proposal envisions spending boosts for most areas of county government to cover pay raises, higher retirement costs and additional staffing. Overall, the county expects to boost employment by 344.5 staff years to a total of 17,378.

Those hikes are offset by an 8.1 percent decline in spending for the Health and Human Services Agency, resulting from an agreement that transfers collective bargaining responsibilities for In-Home Supportive Services to the state.

That administrative move not only won’t impact other services, but the rest of the HHSA activities are in line for an extra $88 million — with more than half going to a planned expansion of contracted community services and the rest for hiring 240 employees.

Spending on capital projects is set to drop by nearly half, or $67.5 million. County spending on infrastructure construction varies widely from year- to-year, depending on where various projects are in the pipeline.

Public hearings on the spending plan are scheduled to begin June 13.

The county uses a two-year budgeting procedure for its operational plan. Staff is recommending a $5 billion spending plan for the 2017-18 fiscal year.