The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors took a number of actions at its November 18 meeting.
One of the board’s votes was to proceed with a major expansion of the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. The enlargement of the existing facilities at the main campus of the county hospital, also referred to by ints acronym ARMC, is intended to meet growing regional demand and improve patient care.
The board authorized expending $1 million to fund feasibility studies, preliminary design and cost analysis, ARMC will begin the planning and environmental review process for a future emergency department and intensive care unit expansion.
ARMC currently serves more than 80,000 patients annually in its Emergency Department. This expansion would allow the hospital to reduce wait times, relieve overcrowding and better serve the region’s residents with expanded trauma and critical care services. The county also adopted a reimbursement resolution enabling future bond financing of up to $350 million. Projected for construction in fiscal year 2028-29, the expansion reflects ARMC’s ongoing commitment to excellence in public hospital care.
The board approved a $5 million loan agreement to support the development of the E Street Veterans Apartments in the City of San Bernardino. Located at 1351 North E St., the project will transform 0.76 acres of donated land into a 30-unit permanent supportive housing (PSH) complex with on-site services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
The county’s loan—funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund—will help fill a financing gap in constructing this critical project, developed in partnership with U.S. VETS, Kingdom AO, and the Loma Linda VA Medical Center. The development will provide 29 affordable PSH units, plus a manager’s unit, with integrated services including case management, health care and behavioral health care access, career development and public assistance benefit coordination.
Construction on the development is expected to begin in early 2026 and conclude by summer 2027.
The Board of Supervisors approved funding allocations through the District Specific Priorities Program to support community wellness, health screenings, youth enrichment and economic empowerment initiatives across the Second District. One funding allocation was $398,000 from Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s District Specific Priorities Program to Life Line Mobile Screening to provide preventive health screenings for up to 1,000 county residents and first responders.
Also approved was a disbursement of $100,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund to the San Bernardino County Department of Human Services to distribute free turkeys, toys and resources to underserved families across the Second District.
In addition, $20,000 from Armendarez’s discretionary fund was earmarked for the Stage Red Fontana Youth Music Foundation to provide instruments and educational materials to youth in Fontana.
There were two further $10,000 transfers from Armendarez’s discretionary fund, one to the Fontana Police Foundation to support the annual Hoops and Heroes tournament, which raises scholarship funds for Fontana students, and the other to the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire to help offset costs for economic development events such as job fairs, investment workshops and community programs.
The board approved budget adjustments to the Registrar of Voters 2025-26 budget following the receipt of approximately $24.8 million from the California Department of Finance to fully fund the Nov. 4, 2025, statewide Special Election. The funding will support all election-related activities, including staffing, polling locations, ballot printing, mailings, equipment rentals, and voter outreach efforts.
The department will report back to the state on the use of funds and may carry over any unused funds to support the 2026 statewide Primary Election.
The board signed off on the San Bernardino County Office of Homeless Services entering into a $654,000 agreement with Inland Temporary Homes, dba Inland Housing Solutions, to provide housing support, rapid rehousing and case management services in the Central Valley, East Desert and West Valley regions. Funded through the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 4 grant, the program will serve at least 47 individuals and families through June 30, 2027. This partnership will deliver regional solutions for homelessness prevention and permanent supportive housing.