Opinion: County Reserve Fund Decision Serves the Supes, Not Constituents

Bob Stonebrook is a small business owner in Carlsbad.

County voters should mark their calendars for May 15, 2026. That Friday morning, as you sip your coffee, take a moment to reflect on whether your County Supervisor and your county government are making you proud. Also, since around that time the county will be finalizing its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, it will be an ideal moment to ask: What was achieved this year by changing the county’s reserve fund policy?

That answer is already predictable. Changing the reserve policy has triggered contractually obligated one-time payments to county employees. The board will have no choice but to approve those payments — or lose in court. But here’s the catch: any other use of those funds this year requires four votes. That fourth vote isn’t coming.  Interestingly, it’s the same four votes that would have been needed to tap the reserves for a specific emergency without triggering automatic employee payouts.

So we must ask: Why was the change made now instead of as part of next year’s budgeting process? The only plausible reason is to ensure those payments are made to unionized county employees.

In which case, let’s call this change to the reserve policy what it truly is: an employee bonus.  Not, as claimed, a safeguard for essential services.  And we should recognize its political function: patronage to union organizations that, in turn, fund campaigns for the very elected officials who authorize the payouts.who authorize the payouts.

We all want a county government we can be proud of. That requires competitive wages to attract and retain talented public servants. But wages alone don’t define pride —results do. In too many critical areas — homelessness, infrastructure, housing, and behavioral health care—residents struggle to see measurable progress.

National politics is teaching us something important: When government fails to deliver on what matters most, public trust erodes. Analysts examining President Donald Trump’s rise have consistently pointed to a disillusioned electorate — voters who feel government talks a lot but achieves little.  That same disillusionment is on the rise here.

The irony is our frontline county employees — those who staff clinics, fix roads, and serve vulnerable families — are brimming with passion and skill. They want to make a difference. My sense is they are held back by middle managers and union stewards who tell them not to rock the boat, don’t challenge inefficiency, but be sure to check all the boxes that cover your butt and mine. 

Elected officials, dependent on unions for dollars and campaign muscle, reinforce that status quo. And in the process, they squander the very energy and talent that could move our county forward.

Our employees don’t want to check boxes; they want to help solve problems and improve their communities. Rather than trying to unleash their union dues for political self-interest, let’s unleash their passion to serve. That’s worth investing in. That’s worth paying for. And that’s how we build a county government we can genuinely be proud of.

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