Press Releases
Fitch Ratings upgrades Sonoma County’s credit rating on Pension Obligation Bonds to AA+
International credit rating firm Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sonoma County’s pension obligation bonds to AA+ from AA, a sign of increasing fiscal stability. Fitch Ratings also affirmed Sonoma County’s Issuer Default Rating at AA+ and provided a “Stable” ratings outlook. Read full story
County of Sonoma ranked fifth in nation in Digital Counties Survey
The Sonoma County Information Systems Department was ranked fifth among counties of its size by the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy in local government. Read full story
Public invited to comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Koi Nation casino project
The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is now accepting public comments on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Koi Nation of Northern California’s proposed casino resort project southeast of Windsor. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves $1.8 million to fund Helen Putnam Regional Park expansion
The bulk of an old dairy ranch on the edge of Petaluma long eyed for housing will be preserved as open space for future generations and merged into Helen Putnam Regional Park, thanks to a partnership between the County and a community group. Read full story
Sonoma County opens cooling centers for high heat warning this week
Cooling centers, where residents can escape the heat, will be available at several locations in Sonoma County beginning Tuesday as the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management activates its extreme temperature response. The National Weather Service has issued a High Heat Warning as temperatures will reach triple digits in some parts of Sonoma County for six consecutive days beginning Tuesday at 11 a.m. Read full story
Board of Supervisors adopts Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted unanimously to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 balanced budget, representing approximately $2.5 billion in total expenditures, a 10 percent increase from the prior fiscal year. The final budget adds 43 full-time County positions for a total of 4,502 employees. The adopted budget is largely consistent with the prior fiscal year budget but adjusted for increased cost of operations and avoids any reductions to core county services. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves plan to expand access to and participation on boards and commissions
The Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a plan to increase participation in County boards and commissions for underserved communities of color, and communities who have not traditionally had access to join these governing bodies. The Board also approved the Office of Equity’s proposed Community Engagement toolkit, which provides recommendations on culturally sensitive community engagement practices to be implemented by County Departments. Read full story
Public hearings on 2024-25 Sonoma County budget to begin Tuesday
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold annual budget hearings beginning Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30 a.m. The hearings will be streamed live with an opportunity for the public to provide input each day regarding the recommended 2024-2025 fiscal year operating plan. At the conclusion of the budget hearings, the board will adopt a final budget to serve as the strategic operating plan for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. Read full story
Interest rate increases for financing through Sonoma County Energy Independence Program
The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, which helps property owners pay for improvements that utilize energy and water more efficiently and strengthen buildings against wildfires and earthquakes, announced today that interest rates on new financing have increased a half percent to 7.99 percent effective immediately. Read full story
Avian Flu emergency ends in Sonoma County; recovery underway for local poultry farmers
The Board of Supervisors today voted to terminate an emergency proclamation that has been in effect since Dec. 5, 2023, in response to the outbreak of avian flu in Sonoma County. The outbreak was first detected at two local commercial poultry farms in late November 2023 and resulted in the immediate euthanizing of 250,000 birds to protect other flocks in the region and elsewhere in California Read full story