Federal and state budget cuts will hurt Yolo County’s most vulnerable residents for the remainder of this and upcoming years.

Speaking to about 65 members of the Woodland Chamber of Commerce, new Yolo County Chief Administrative Officer Mike Webb and 3rd District Supervisor Mary Sandy warned that it will take close-knit collaboration and coordination to shore up emergency services.

Webb and Sandy tried to provide a “positive outlook” and not a “doom and gloom” attitude during their presentations at the Woodland Hotel, but both said the effects on health and human services alone will have major consequences for people receiving everything from mental to medical care.

Webb has been the county’s chief administrator since February after serving the past 30 years in various leadership roles, including eight years as Davis City Manager. Sandy was elected in November after being appointed to fill out the term of her late husband, Gary Sandy.

During his address Thursday afternoon, Webb said Gov. Gavin Newsom’s revised May state budget appears not to have any “dramatic” direct effects on Yolo County, but for things like homelessness, housing, there’s nothing on the table there. That’s going to be a struggle.”

Webb does expect the county to adopt a balanced budget of around $750 million, but it’s going to require cuts in every department “across the board” to basically reduce and trim everywhere possible, given the state and federal uncertainties.

“We are also expecting future reductions in coming years,” he said. “We’re going to be looking at programs and services. Taking a close look at our organizational structure as well as contracts to achieve a structural balance. It’s not going to be easy. There are going to be impacts.”

The county’s Health and Human Services Agency will largely bear “the brunt of that impact,” Webb said. “These programs serve the most vulnerable,” yet they also take 35% of county funds, with 30% alone going to housing.

Funds are increasingly provided by the state for these essential services that are not necessarily under the county’s control, with Webb noting there will be effects on the numbers of staff, with some positions going vacant that will lengthen wait times and the overall ability to deliver services.

“I don’t want to paint a doom and gloom picture,” he said, “but I want to provide a reality check for the community to work through this and come out the other side with some semblance of success.”

Fortunately, Webb noted, he expects to pass a budget for 2026 which doesn’t dip into general fund resources, which basically means raiding the county’s savings account.

“What that really means for us is that it emphasizes the importance of doing what we can at the local level to have a positive impact on those things we can (deal with),” he said. “It means working together, pursuing grants, leveraging those dollars … (working with) chambers, with the cities. Working together in a direction to maximize everything we can.”

It also means having “clear and frank conversations” about what is needed to be ready, willing and able to meet these challenges.He said, “We have got to help move along those businesses that can affect the county in positive ways. He cited Clark Pacific as an example of county action, noting the concrete manufacturing company north of Woodland is seeking to expand its business by 1.6 million square feet and hire another 180 local workers.

Clark Pacific and Bayer — which is located west of the Woodland’s urban limit line — are also working with the city to obtain water delivery systems with the City Council approving a public vote in 2026 to expand those services.

“Keeping a positive outlook,” is critical he said, something endorsed by Supervisor Sandy who told chamber members the county needs to make “strategic investments for the long term … as we move into a very different budget time.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty in this,” she said, “but I’m cautiously optimistic that we can get through this,” although dismantling the infrastructure to provide services to the neediest in Yolo County will be hard to rebuild if they are dismantled too much.

Referencing the recent announcement to install a solar canopy at the Yolo County Landfill, which will provide power to run the Landfill, Sandy said. She also called the unveiling of the new Woodland Regional Park — a 10-year effort — a testament to the resilience of this community.

Sandy said people will have to do “what is possible and what is necessary for us in this community to work locally — to bring our coalitions together.”