On May 18, 2021 (16), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved recommendations on Launching a Comprehensive Approach to Evidence-Based Policy Making and Establishing the Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Analytics (OEPA). This action instructed OEPA to develop the County’s Annual Strategic Research Plan. The plan would identify the County’s most important research and policy questions and determine which key service areas and program models need evaluation.

The County’s first Annual Strategic Research Plan responds to direction from the Board of Supervisors. The plan was developed in collaboration with OEPA’s Internal Advisory Group which includes representatives from the County’s four Business Groups: Finance and General Government, Health and Human Services Agency, Land Use and Environment, and Public Safety. The public gave input as part of community engagement efforts for the County’s budget, and academic and technical experts also offered advice.

The research plan will be incorporated into the County’s strategic planning process. It has a five-year time horizon and will undergo annual revisions.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is required to comply with the Levine Act. The purpose of the Levine Act is to prevent public officials, including members of boards or commissions or heads of agencies, from being influenced by campaign contributions from individuals and parties appearing before them and to prevent officials from using their position of authority to unduly influence applicants to make contributions to campaigns.

The Levine Act only applies to certain matters brought to the Board of Supervisors, including permits, licenses, contracts, and other entitlements for use. While these matters are pending and for 12 months after a decision has been made, a Supervisor may not accept, solicit, or direct campaign contributions of more than $250 from parties, participants who have a financial interest in the proceedings, or their respective agents.

The County of San Diego measures staffing in staff years. In concept, a staff year is one person working full-time for one year; it is equivalent to the hours per year a full-time employee is expected to work. A normal fiscal year equals 2,088 staff hours (occasionally 2,080 or 2,096 staff hours). Two workers, each working half that number of hours, together equal one staff year. County salaries and benefits are based on the number of staff years required to provide a service.

Data set which aligns multiple County of San Diego financial metrics to activities, programs, and process measures which ultimately drive the enterprise’s fiscal stability. The County measures fiscal stability by maintaining a high credit rating.

Budget and Finance Indicator data

Efficiently providing superior public services

The operating ratio demonstrates the ability to generate revenues to fund current or desired service levels. A ratio of 1:1 or higher indicates budget solvency. The ratio is measured by comparing audited General Fund expenditures to audited General Fund revenues. The measure focuses on the General Fund as it is the County's chief operating fund.

This chart focuses on the General Fund as it is the County's chief operating fund. When audited General Fund Revenues equal or exceed audited General Fund Expenditures in any year, it indicates budget solvency and an ability to fund current or desired service levels.

Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability (UAAL) is the difference between the retirement plan’s actuarial accrued liabilities and plan assets.

The pension funded ratio compares actuarial assets to actuarial accrued liabilities. High ratios indicate a well-funded plan with assets sufficient to cover liabilities. Lower ratios may indicate poor asset performance, recent changes to actuarial assumptions such as reductions to the assumed rate of return, or a variety of other factors.