News Flash

Top News

Posted on: May 16, 2023

SJCOG sees largest infusion of revenue to its operating budget in agency history

Image shows some of the programs that will benefit from the SJCOG operating budget.

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) charges into the new fiscal year with the largest budget in its history to deliver projects and programs to improve the lives of people throughout San Joaquin County.

SJCOG’s Overall Work Program (OWP) — the management tool laying out expected funding sources and staff resources needed to deliver the agency’s work for the fiscal year — is estimated at nearly $41.7 million, more than $13 million over the current year’s budget. That is nearly a 46 percent increase over the final OWP for the current fiscal year. The SJCOG Board of Directors OK’d the draft 2023-24 OWP earlier this year and it was then released for review and comment by Caltrans, federal highways and transit agencies, SJCOG member jurisdictions, and the public. It was adopted by the board at its March meeting. 

“We’re looking at the largest OWP budget in SJCOG’s history at four times the amount it was in 2020,” SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen told board members in comparing the draft to the $10.5 million budget for 2019-20. “This robust budget is something I’m very excited about. We’re operating in regional spaces that will transform the community in the areas of regional housing, sustainability and innovative projects. We’re very much looking forward to Fiscal Year ’23-’24.”

Image of a chart showing the rise in the SJCOG operating budget it over five years.The increase is the latest in a series over the years marking SJCOG’s success in applying for grants for projects and programs to benefit San Joaquin County residents. Past draft budgets have increased from nearly $10.5 million in Fiscal Year 2019-20 to nearly $13.7 million in Fiscal Year 2020-21, nearly $18.4 million in Fiscal Year 2021-22, and nearly $24 million for the current fiscal year. The draft OWP can be amended during the fiscal year and the final OWP for the current fiscal year is at more than $28.6 million.

The most significant increases in revenue come in SJCOG’s work on regional housing and associated infrastructure, and a regional collaboration with local nonprofits and University of the Pacific to tackle resiliency and adaptation to climate impacts in San Joaquin County. The Regional Early Action Program (REAP) 2.0 will infuse $10.6 million for local and regional housing-related projects and programs to ease the housing crisis. About 65 percent of that funding will go directly to cities in San Joaquin County for planning, infrastructure, and housing projects. Another $1 million will be set aside for SJCOG to continue its work on a regional housing trust fund.

Two separate but related grants to SJCOG are providing underserviced communities with clean, affordable transportation to get to essential destinations. SJCOG received a $7.4 million Air Resources Board Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) grant to form the Stockton Mobility Collective to provide nonprofit carshare and bikeshare, incentives to use public transit, and a workforce development program. That project officially launched April 1 and about $3.7 million of the grant is budgeted in the draft 2023-24 OWP.

SJCOG also received a state Clean Mobility Options (CMO) voucher program grant to work in concert with the Stockton Mobility Collective to expand electric carshare programs in San Joaquin County. About $1.2 million for that program is in the draft OWP.

A $1.75 million Strategic Growth Council grant — which resulted directly from SJCOG investigating climate impacts on transportation in the county — will help SJCOG, local nonprofits and Pacific form a Regional Climate Collaborative to help county residents cope and adapt to climate impacts.

Funding for other SJCOG studies — including finding best practices for delivering bicycle and pedestrian projects and researching alternative fuels — is also included in the draft OWP.

To learn more about the OWP and the related Annual Financial Plan, and to find a link to the draft OWP for 2023-24, visit Overall Work Program/Annual Financial Plan webpage.

 

 

Additional Info...
Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Top News

Image shows the photos of five new SJCOG Board members.

Record 5 new members join SJCOG Board

Posted on: February 7, 2023
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Webinar flyer

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Webinar

Posted on: September 29, 2022
Miner Ave ribbon cutting (002)

Miner Avenue Complete Streets Project

Posted on: March 16, 2022
SJV Policy Conf 2022

2022 San Joaquin Valley Policy Conference

Posted on: February 25, 2022
SJCOG Logo

Livestream Notice - February Board Meeting

Posted on: February 24, 2022
SJCOG bldg v2 (003)

It’s been a while, but we’re back!

Posted on: February 23, 2022
Rise n Ride Event SMC 3-26-22 Final

Rise 'N' Ride Event

Posted on: February 11, 2022
Lodi Greenline Mtg

Lodi Greenline Trail Virtual Workshop

Posted on: January 19, 2022
Tran Halva 1_19_22

Local talent makes a difference

Posted on: January 19, 2022
Regional Housing Symposium Save the Date Flyer

San Joaquin Regional Housing Symposium

Posted on: January 13, 2022
SJCOG Logo

Board Meeting Update

Posted on: December 9, 2021
Lodi Greenline Trail logo - rough -01 (002)

Survey: Lodi Greenline Trail

Posted on: October 14, 2021
SJCOG utn

Survey: Unmet Transit Needs

Posted on: October 14, 2021