Spending drops much faster than fee revenue
The Real Estate Fraud Fund collected $709,825 in 2024–25: $671,460 in service charges and $38,365 from use of money and property. The adopted plan budgets $703,734, a decline of $6,091, or 0.9%.
Other financing uses fall from $1 million to $752,240, a $247,760 reduction, or 24.8%. The shortfall consequently narrows from $290,175 to $48,506—an 83.3% reduction.
The original finding comes from comparing both sides of Schedule 9, printed page 175. Flat revenue alone would obscure the much larger spending correction.
| Measure | 2024–25 actual | 2025–26 adopted | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $709,825 | $703,734 | −0.9% |
| Other financing uses | $1,000,000 | $752,240 | −24.8% |
| Shortfall | $290,175 | $48,506 | −83.3% |
The budget does not measure investigations or recoveries
The table does not disclose complaints, cases opened, prosecutions, restitution or the program receiving the transfer. It therefore cannot establish whether the smaller authorization reflects less fraud, delayed work or a financing decision.
Case and workload records are needed to judge performance. The budget establishes a narrower point: the fund remains in deficit, but the planned draw is less than one-sixth of the latest actual gap.
Sources and further reading
Kern County FY2025–26 Adopted Budget — Real Estate Fraud, printed p175 ↗