The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will take up annual budget hearings starting on Tuesday. The nearly $600 Million county budget represents a 5% increase over the previous fiscal year. A large chunk of the budget is the more than $95 Million dedicated to public safety. One of the greatest uncertainties in the budget forecast is the direction that will be taken by the CalPERS Board. The county’s liability for post-retirement medical and dental benefits was $144 Million at the start of the current fiscal year. Another budget wildcard is the effect that the state budget will have, with Billions of Dollars in new spending proposed that could benefit counties.