RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez used her first community meeting in Rancho Murieta on May 4 to outline countywide challenges ranging from homelessness and illegal fireworks to budget pressures tied to federal funding cuts.

The meeting at the Rancho Murieta Association Building drew county officials, community leaders and residents who questioned Rodriguez about issues affecting both Rancho Murieta and the county as a whole.

See separate stories ion Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez’s surprise announcement about additional Scott Road paving and her presentation of a proclamation to recently retired Rancho Murieta Association General Manager Rod Hart.

From Migrant Roots to County Supervisor

Rodriguez opened with personal remarks about her background and path into public service.

She described growing up in a migrant farmworker family after her parents immigrated from Mexico and said she learned early the importance of hard work and education.

Rodriguez said she spent 24 years working in health care before opening her own restaurant business in Folsom about 10 years ago. Sacramento County’s official biography states that she launched a San Francisco-style taqueria in Folsom’s Historic District in 2016.

Before being elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in November 2024, Rodriguez served on the Folsom Cordova Unified School District board and later on the Folsom City Council, where she served as mayor when elected to the Board of Supervisors.

She said her district stretches from Rancho Cordova and Folsom south through Rancho Murieta and into the Delta communities, giving her responsibility for a large, diverse area.

Rodriguez emphasized that she wanted the community meetings to provide direct access to county leadership and staff.

“I want to make sure people know who to call and how to get help,” she said.

The County Board of Supervisors elected her chair in January.

County Budget Concerns

Rodriguez spent considerable time discussing the county’s worsening budget outlook, focusing on the impacts of H.R. 1, the federal legislation commonly nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

She explained that the county would have faced a $40 million shortfall under "normal conditions," but estimates have risen dramatically due to reductions in federal support.

According to Rodriguez, cuts to Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal, and the federal SNAP food assistance program, known in California as CalFresh, could push the county’s financial exposure to $100 million or more.

She warned that counties throughout California are increasingly being asked to shoulder costs formerly covered through federal programs.

“We are very concerned,” Rodriguez said. “Those are services people rely on every day.”

Rodriguez said Sacramento County is now negotiating with the state over which level of government will absorb various costs as federal funding support declines. She said county leaders are still trying to determine the full impacts while preparing for difficult budget decisions ahead.

Rodriguez also said she would oppose cuts to public safety services, arguing that unincorporated areas of the county, such as Rancho Murieta, would likely “get the short end of the stick” when budget reductions occur because resources are concentrated in more urban parts of the county.

Homelessness

Rodriguez also spoke at length about the county’s efforts to address homelessness. She said the county recently expanded its illegal camping ordinance to allow the Sheriff’s Office to clear homeless encampments on both public and private property, including vacant parcels where owners may be absent or live out of state.

She said sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Teams also work to connect homeless individuals with county services, including behavioral health, addiction treatment and housing assistance, while breaking up illegal camps.

Resident Carole Thames raised concerns about a homeless encampment located on privately owned property in the hilly area south of Stonehouse Park. Thames said she fears a fire could start in the encampment and quickly spread into the surrounding community.

Rodriguez acknowledged the concern.

“That’s not OK,” Rodriguez said, referring to people living long-term on undeveloped private property without sanitation or utilities. She said the issue would likely involve both the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Sacramento County Environmental Management officials responsible for environmental health enforcement.

Rodriguez encouraged residents to continue documenting problems and reporting concerns so county agencies can track conditions and determine appropriate enforcement action.

Fireworks Enforcement

Rodriguez said illegal fireworks continue to create serious fire danger throughout Sacramento County, especially in Orangevale and Antelope.

Rodriguez said the county plans a strong enforcement campaign ahead of the Fourth of July and warned that people caught using illegal fireworks could face fines “up to $10,000.” She said the Sheriff’s Department plans to use drones, targeted enforcement areas and videos submitted through 311 to identify violators.

Rodriguez said videos and photos submitted by residents through 311 can help investigators identify violators.

“We need the community’s help,” she said.

Construction Permit Delays

Resident Mike Martel questioned Rodriguez about ongoing frustrations with Sacramento County’s building permit process, particularly delays and difficulties encountered during construction projects.

The issue prompted responses from both Sacramento County Chief Building Official Greg Mahoney and Sacramento County Executive David Villanueva, both Rancho Murieta residents who attended the meeting.

Mahoney acknowledged past problems within the permitting system and said the county has been working to improve response times and coordination between departments.

Villanueva also addressed the issue, saying Sacramento County leadership recognizes the need for modernization and streamlining.

Both officials referenced ongoing work by Deputy County Executive Dave Devani to improve the county’s permitting and development processes.

Rodriguez said county staff would continue to work on reforms and encouraged residents to keep documenting specific problems so they can be addressed.

311 System

Rodriguez encouraged residents to make greater use of Sacramento County’s 311 service system to report problems ranging from illegal dumping to road hazards and code enforcement issues.

She described the system as one of the county’s most valuable tools because complaints and requests can be tracked and routed to the appropriate departments.

Rodriguez urged residents not to assume someone else has already reported a problem.

“If you see something, report it,” she said.

She also encouraged residents to contact her office directly by email with ongoing concerns or unresolved issues at [email protected].