California’s biggest problems with fraud, waste, and mismanagement of federally funded programs are concentrated in its largest, liberal-run cities. Yet when the federal government responds with penalties, cost shifts, or funding pressure, the consequences fall disproportionately on smaller rural and inland counties like Shasta — communities that had little to do with creating the original problems. How State-Level Failures Trigger Federal Consequences When California shows h

Shasta County’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) isn’t just another department. It accounts for more than half of the county’s roughly $600–650 million annual budget — approximately $300 million under its control — and employs around 1,000 people across roughly 100 programs. Much of that money flows from state and federal sources to fund mandated services such as social services, behavioral health, public assistance, and public health. When the bulk of your funding com

A Press Release was issued on November 26th by HHSA that indicates Director Coleman and her team has been able to “complete a deeper review of the financial models, payor mix, Medi-Cal impact, staffing implications, and regional commitments related to the campus…Having now received the additional information needed, I [Coleman] am confident this project aligns with the best interests of Shasta County and our broader region.