Of course, building, managing, maintaining, and staffing three large buildings occupying up to six blocks of premium real estate will be expensive. It's a pipe dream, now. But how much of it can we afford? The answer requires financial information.

On June 4, 2025, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved the County Executive's budget request. The 2025-2026 appropriation total is $8.9 billion. This is less than last year's appropriation total of $9.2 billion. I distilled out all but the essential decision-making material to produce this spreadsheet.

To pay for all the appropriations, the money ultimately comes from we the people. Money comes from county property taxes. Money comes from a state fund as a portion of our sales tax.

Money comes from users of county services who pay a fee. Money from users are classified as revenues. County departments provide services to other county departments. Within the government, there is an internal web of economic activity. The approximately $1 billion in internal activities are also classified as revenues.

The Department of Finance accumulates money and distributes them to other departments' funds. The approximately $1 billion in internal fund transfers are classified as Interfund transfers to other funds.

The web of economic activity and the distribution of funds to other departments add to the appropriations; however, they do not add to the tax burden. The County Executive subtracts (eliminates) the approximately $2 billion from the appropriations before setting tax targets.

If Sacramento County were to build three large buildings, the Assets (General Services) and Debt Service line items will have to significantly increase. To manage and staff Sacramento Dorms, the Social Services and Behavior Programs line items will have to change their focus. For example, social workers will become grammar and math tutors.

To manage and staff Sacramento Community College, a new line item called Adult Education would have to be created and funded. The debate will be: Where will the funds come from?

I believe that after inmates and the homeless finally finish their homework, they will contribute to our economy instead of draining it.

The Sacramento County budget displays the supervisors' values. If I had my druthers, the Appropriations, excluding the self-sufficient airport, would display these values:

Pipedream Sacramento County Appropriations

It will be okay if the upper floors of the bigger jail and Sacramento Dorms become empty. It will mean our community has raised its ethical standard and we're counting blessings.