The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors adopted a $592.3 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2017-18 on Tuesday.

The $592.3 million budget is about a 3 percent growth over the current fiscal year. The budget prioritizes funding that allows the County to meet legal mandates and debt service requirements, strengthen public safety, and improve roads. It also includes funding to manage groundwater basins, continue the 50Now program to house and serve chronically homeless individuals, regulate medical and recreational cannabis, and fund parks projects in the south county.

The budget also incorporates funds distributed to local nonprofits as well as funds related to groundwater management, commercial cannabis cultivation regulations and enforcement, and affordable housing programs.

“The budget is the most important document we produce, as it outlines the County’s financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year and is intended to communicate and implement Board policy related to County operations,” said County Budget Director Emily Jackson.

The people of San Luis Obispo County had an opportunity to weigh in on the budget recommendations during public budget hearings on June 12 and 14.

The County government publishes its award-winning budget document every year, attempting to strike an appropriate balance between financial detail and discussion of bigger picture issues, Jackson said. Each year, the document is intended to inform meaningful discussion about resource allocation decisions among the public, the Board of Supervisors, and staff.

For more information, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov.