CivicCause
Sign in
Weekly email: the clearest signal on local decisions.
Get the Weekly Brief

Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County is a jurisdiction of 1.9 million anchoring Silicon Valley — governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors delivering public health, social services, courts, and regional infrastructure across 15 cities from Palo Alto to Gilroy.

CivicCause organizes county meetings, issues, elections, public activity, and regional context so residents can follow what is happening across the county without losing the local thread.

Santa Clara County civic mark

City Hubs

Local civic coverage by city
Live now
Campbell
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Cupertino
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Gilroy
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Los Altos
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Los Altos Hills
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Los Gatos
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Milpitas
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Monte Sereno
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Morgan Hill
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Mountain View
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Palo Alto
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
San Jose
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Santa Clara
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Saratoga
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Live now
Sunnyvale
Open this city’s civic homepage.
Daily Summary
2026-06-08

County Faces $70M Federal Funding Shortfall Amid Budget Strains

Santa Clara County is confronting a $70 million loss in federal funding that it must backfill, with the Office of Supportive Housing facing the largest cut of $29 million. These reductions stem from federal Medi-Cal cuts and are compounding budget pressures already heightened by inflation and rising service demands. This funding threat directly impacts county services and housing programs, making it a critical issue for residents relying on these supports.

The Board of Supervisors will continue budget hearings on June 15 and 16 to address these financial challenges and consider funding priorities. Meanwhile, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Board meets on June 10 to discuss infrastructure projects that include affordable housing development near transit stations, a key regional effort linked to county housing goals. These meetings will shape how the county manages its budget shortfalls and housing needs in the coming year.

Meeting: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors • Board of Supervisors - Continued Budget HearingMeeting: Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors • Board of Supervisors - Budget HearingMeeting: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors • Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA…

Top Issues in Santa Clara County

All tracked issues

Priority issue threads currently being tracked across meetings, agencies, and public records.

Transportation & Transit Future (VTA)
active
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is navigating a dual mandate — running a regional transit system while developing affordable housing on underutilized land near stations. Ten VTA projects currently in active developmen…
Federal Funding Threats to County Services
active
The county is confronting $70 million in anticipated lost federal funding it will need to backfill, with the Office of Supportive Housing facing the largest losses of $29 million. Federal Medi-Cal cuts are driving multiple departmental sho…
Mental Health Services Budget Crisis
active
The Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department is facing a $100 million deficit for fiscal year 2026–27, driven by federal Medi-Cal cuts triggered by H.R. 1, changes in state funding, the end of one-time COVID-19 dollars, and…
Child Welfare System Failures
active
The county's Department of Family and Children's Services has been placed under expanded state oversight following the death of toddler Jaxon Juarez in foster care. A county medical examiner report found that three child abuse-related deat…
Homelessness & Housing Affordability
active
Santa Clara County has a record number of more than 10,700 homeless people, according to a recent point-in-time count. Chronic homelessness has increased 21% since 2023, and more people are reporting being homeless for the first time — nea…
Community Pulse

Mental Health Services Budget Cuts

Mental Health Services Budget Cuts
The Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department is facing a $100 million deficit in the coming fiscal year, driven by federal Medi-Cal cuts, changes in state funding, and rising costs — threatening recently expanded mental health treatment programs. Do you support or oppose reducing mental health services to help balance the county budget?
Vote once per email. CivicCause Poll results are directional, not scientific.

Civic Insights

No insight cards available yet.

Civic Signals

No active civic signals right now.

Elections

Explore elections
6/2/2026 June 2, 2026 California Primary
Candidate races
No candidate races loaded yet.
Measures
Measure A: Transient Occupancy Tax Increase MeasureMeasure B: Parcel Tax Renewal MeasureMeasure C: Franklin-McKinley School District General Obligation Bond MeasureMeasure D: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Voter-Sponsored Initiative Special Parcel Tax

Upcoming Civic Activity

Organizations
No upcoming organization events in the next two weeks.

Upcoming meetings

Full calendar
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
9/18/2026 • 09:00 AM
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
UpcomingAgenda + causes
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
9/22/2026 • 01:30 PM
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
UpcomingAgenda + causes
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
10/1/2026 • 05:30 PM
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
UpcomingAgenda + causes
Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting
10/6/2026 • 09:30 AM
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
UpcomingAgenda available
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
10/6/2026 • 11:00 AM
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors
UpcomingAgenda + causes

Recent meetings

Meeting archive
No recent meetings are available yet.

Recent news

Fact Brief: Did groundwater pumping in the 20th century cause land to sink in Santa Clara County?
San José Spotlight • 2026-06-03
The post Fact Brief: Did groundwater pumping in the 20th century cause land to sink in Santa Clara County? appeared first on San José Spotlight.
Will the World Cup be a boon to Silicon Valley businesses?
San José Spotlight • 2026-06-03
The FIFA World Cup is the last of the sports trifecta to bring an economic boost into Santa Clara County following the Super Bowl in February and NCAA March Madness. An international crowd …
Jeff Rosen appears headed for fifth term as Santa Clara County DA
Mercury News — Local • 2026-06-03
The 16-year incumbent faced a second electoral challenge from his employee and ardent critic Daniel Chung.
Measure D: Open space parcel tax in Santa Clara County leads in early returns
Mercury News — Local • 2026-06-03
Measure would raise $17 million a year for Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Sylvia Arenas ahead in early results for South County contest
San José Spotlight • 2026-06-03
Early results show District 1 Santa Clara County Supervisor Sylvia Arenas comfortably fending off a challenger to hold onto her agricultural South County seat. As of 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Are…
Jeff Rosen takes early lead in DA race
Mountain View Voice • 2026-06-03
In the race for Santa Clara County District Attorney, incumbent Jeff Rosen held an early lead in his bid to reign supreme for another four years. Rosen, who is running for his fifth consecu…
Jeff Rosen takes early lead in DA race
Palo Alto Online • 2026-06-03
In the race for Santa Clara County District Attorney, incumbent Jeff Rosen held an early lead in his bid to reign supreme for another four years. Rosen, who is running for his fifth consecu…
Longtime Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen Holds Early Lead in Reelection Bid
KQED — News • 2026-06-03
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is well ahead of his challenger in early primary election results.

Budget Snapshot

Current budget status for this county.
Santa Clara County Budget
FY 2026-27 recommended budget
Recommended budget available online: May 1, 2026
Budget workshops: May 11-13, 2026
Budget hearings / Board consideration: June 15, 16, and 18, 2026
Adopted budget available online: October 2, 2026
This figure reflects Santa Clara County's FY 2026-2027 Recommended Budget and may change during Board adoption. Detailed budget-unit comparison rows still reflect the previously imported FY 2025-2026 recommended/adopted tables until the full FY 2026-2027 import is refreshed.
FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget
$14.7B
Projected Budget Gap
$787M