The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is the five-member elected body that governs Sacramento County, setting policy for roughly 1.6 million residents and approving an annual budget of about $8.9 billion.1Sacramento County. 2025-26 Recommended Budget Approved Each supervisor represents one geographic district, and together they act as the county’s legislature, its executive leadership, and a quasi-judicial body for certain appeals. For the roughly 603,000 people who live in unincorporated Sacramento County, the board plays the role a city council plays elsewhere.2Sacramento County. Demographics and Facts
The Five Supervisors and Their Districts
The board’s current members are Phil Serna (District 1), Patrick Kennedy (District 2), Rich Desmond (District 3), Rosario Rodriguez (District 4), and Pat Hume (District 5). Rodriguez serves as Chair and Hume as Vice Chair, roles the board rotates among its members each year.3Sacramento County. Board of Supervisors
Supervisors are elected to four-year terms, and Sacramento County places no cap on how many terms a member may serve.4Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. About the Board Terms are staggered so that no more than three seats appear on the ballot in the same general election, which keeps experienced members on the board through every cycle.5California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 25000 – Board of Supervisors Candidates must live in the district they seek to represent.
What the Board Decides
The board writes the ordinances that carry the force of law throughout Sacramento County, covering everything from building codes to noise rules. It also sets the county budget, which for fiscal year 2025–26 totals approximately $8.9 billion and funds public health programs, the Sheriff’s Office, social services, infrastructure, and dozens of other departments.1Sacramento County. 2025-26 Recommended Budget Approved Revenue comes from property taxes, sales taxes, state and federal pass-through funds, and fees for county services. Budget hearings are open, and residents can testify on spending priorities before any vote is taken.
The board appoints senior county officers designated in the county charter.6County of Sacramento, CA. Sacramento County Code – Article V General Powers of the Board of Supervisors – Section 15 Specific Powers The County Executive then runs daily operations and appoints most department heads, so the supervisors set direction and the executive branch carries it out.
Land Use in Unincorporated Areas
For unincorporated Sacramento County, the board has final say over land-use planning and zoning. Supervisors review development proposals, approve or deny building permits, and evaluate environmental impact reports against the county’s general plan. Planning-level decisions can typically be appealed to the board, though appeal fees generally run a few hundred dollars. If you live inside an incorporated city, your city council handles these questions instead.
Limits on Taxing Power
The board cannot raise a new tax on its own. Under Proposition 218, any new general tax must be approved by a majority of voters at a regularly scheduled election, and a special tax dedicated to a specific program needs a two-thirds vote.7California Secretary of State. Proposition 218 – Text of Proposed Law The supervisors decide whether to place a measure on the ballot, but voters decide whether it becomes law.
Oversight of the Sheriff’s Office
The Sheriff is separately elected, so the board cannot hire or fire the Sheriff. What the board can do is set the Sheriff’s Office budget and fund independent oversight. The Office of Inspector General reviews misconduct complaints against Sheriff’s Office employees, audits internal affairs investigations, tracks serious incidents including officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, and takes complaints directly from the public.8Sacramento County Inspector General. Inspector General A Sheriff Community Review Commission works alongside that office as a link between residents and the oversight process.
How to Attend or Speak at a Meeting
The board meets on select Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. in the Board Chambers, Room 1450, at the County Administration Center, 700 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.9Sacramento County. Board of Supervisors Public Meetings Under the Ralph M. Brown Act, the agenda for every regular meeting must be posted at least 72 hours in advance, both at a publicly accessible location and on the county’s website, and each item must include a brief description.10California Legislative Information. California Code GOV 54954.2 – Agenda Posting Requirements
To speak on an item, fill out a speaker request form at the meeting and go to the podium when your item is called. California boards commonly allow three minutes per speaker, and the Chair can adjust the limit based on how many people have signed up. A separate general public comment period covers subjects not on the agenda. If you cannot attend in person, the county accepts written comments by email or mail before the meeting.9Sacramento County. Board of Supervisors Public Meetings
One boundary worth knowing: the Brown Act bars the board from acting on items that are not on the posted agenda, aside from narrow emergency exceptions. You can still raise an off-agenda concern during general public comment, but expect the board to refer it to staff rather than vote that day.
Records, Voting History, and Ethics Filings
The Clerk of the Board is the official recordkeeper. That office maintains meeting minutes, tracks each supervisor’s voting history, holds documents required by the county charter, and processes appeals, including property assessment appeals heard by the Assessment Appeals Board.11Sacramento County. Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Much of this material is searchable online through the Clerk’s databases.
For records not posted online, you can file a request under the California Public Records Act. Agencies must respond promptly, generally within ten days, and can withhold records only under specific exemptions such as ongoing litigation, personnel files, or law enforcement investigations. A denial can be challenged in court.12California Secretary of State. Public Records Act Requests
Each supervisor also files a Statement of Economic Interests, known as Form 700, with the California Fair Political Practices Commission. The form discloses investments, real property interests, income sources, and gifts, and the filings are public records. Late filings can be referred to the FPPC’s enforcement division with penalties of up to $5,000.13California Fair Political Practices Commission. Statements of Economic Interests – Form 700 Under the Political Reform Act, a supervisor with a financial interest in the outcome of a vote must recuse. For a board that controls billions in spending and makes land-use decisions that affect property values, these filings are the primary structural check on self-dealing, and they are open for anyone to read.