The San Benito County Board of Supervisors increased Marshal
Robert Scattini’s budget for the second time this year after
Scattini argued the importance of his job Tuesday.
Hollister – The San Benito County Board of Supervisors increased Marshal Robert Scattini’s budget for the second time this year after Scattini argued the importance of his job Tuesday.
Scattini had requested a budget increase of almost $28,000 to bring his secretary back on board full-time after budget cuts by the old Board of Supervisors made the position part-time last year. Scattini said he’s swamped at his office now that the secretary only works three days a week. The money will also cover maintenance and fuel for the marshal’s vehicle, which Scattini said the county previously gave him only about $250 a year to maintain.
The vehicle maintenance portion of the augmentation proved to be a challenge for Scattini when Supervisor Pat Loe told him the request was for too much.
“I think $3,200 is a lot of money for the taxpayers to pay for gas and repairs and I just don’t feel comfortable with that,” Loe said.
Loe said Wednesday she didn’t like the idea of paying for Scattini’s mileage when he serves papers because he also receives a service fee for each trip as part of his salary.
“I don’t know of any other department where that would happen. As far as I know this is the only department that actually gets money and gets to keep the check. I just think all the departments should be treated equally,” she said.
Scattini, who last month argued to be reimbursed for the salary of a deputy marshal who was transferred to the sheriff’s office, took Loe’s comments seriously.
“Let’s get off the drum and support the marshal’s office like we support every other office,” he said. “I’m tired of being drummed to death. The old board was vindictive, but I want to work with this board.”
Loe still voted against the $3,200 budget increase for maintenance costs, but Scattini ended up with the four votes he needed to fully augment his budget anyway.
Scattini was re-elected marshal last March, beating two competitors by almost 70 percent of the vote. But, he said, his budget was slashed in July from $179,000 a year to $40,000 a year. In addition, Deputy Marshal Martin Deffee was transferred over to the sheriff’s department shortly after being hired, but the Marshal’s office continued to pay Deffee’s salary. The board voted in February to reimburse Scattini’s office for Deffee’s $29,000 salary.
Scattini said Tuesday his staffing shortages were causing more work for him than was reasonable.
“I work seven days a week,” he said. “Nobody else works seven days a week.”
The Marshal’s secretary will be brought back full-time within the next two weeks – not a moment too soon, Scattini said Wednesday.
“We’re so busy over here, she hasn’t stopped all day,” he said.
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at jq*****@fr***********.com.
