In a preliminary budget presented to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors at a special meeting Tuesday, County Administrative Officer Ray Espinosa called for keeping the “status quo” in most departments.
The budget was shared with supervisors in preparation of the June 17 budget hearings, when they will make a final decision on funding levels for each department. Unlike in past years, many of the subvented departments will be approved through a consent agenda process unless supervisors choose to pull a specific item for additional discussion. General fund departments will be reviewed as part of a regular agenda, with hopes of getting through the budget hearing process in one day rather than the multiple days it has taken in past years.
Espinosa said the recommended budget is balanced with $1.6 million in one-time funding from the Health an Human Services Agency from an overpayment from the general fund in a previous year and rollover funds from the 2012-13 year, along with higher estimates of revenue from the assessor’s and tax collector’s offices.
As he and a budget analyst reviewed recommendations for each budget unit, Espinosa said officials were suggesting an end to furloughs in the 2013-14 budget and a return to step increases for employees. They also recommended keeping $681,000 in a contingency fund for emergencies.
“There have been some changes and some addition of employees,” Espinosa said. “Last year’s reduction with layoffs, at this same time we reduced down to 371 or so employees. This budget we are proposing to add a few where needed.”
The 2013-14 recommended budget included an increase of 1.3 full-time employees for the county administration office, a 0.5 FTE increase for the tax collector’s office and a doubling of temporary help in the assessor’s office.
“That would result in additional costs for temporary help, but with the idea of having additional revenue to the county,” said Supervisor Margie Barrios. “It would bring this money into the coffers quickly.”
She said the backlog in the assessor’s office and in the treasurer/tax collector’s office had potential to lose money for the county without the additional help.
It was recommended that the auditor’s office increase by 2.45 full-time employees as there are currently no accountants on staff.
Supervisors were quick to question why the law enforcement staffing levels had not increased. While there was an increase of $150,000 to cover overtime costs in the sheriff’s operation budget and in the county jail, they did not add any additional personnel.
Espinosa said he had talked with the sheriff to discuss adding an additional deputy to the staff.
“If we do have some leeway to fill positions we should fill them to public safety,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho. “To the DA’s office and probation as well. I’d like to see us emphasize as we recover more toward safety.”
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz asked if adding one deputy to the jail would allow the county to minimize overtime costs.
“It would decrease, but I can’t testify today to the level,” said Sheriff Darren Thompson.
Thompson said state law requires the jail to operate with crews of at least four staff members. So now when someone calls in sick, someone else has to be called in for overtime.
“If we could put an additional person on each team that could absorb those absences, but it would be cost-prohibitive,” Thompson said.
Supervisor Jerry Muenzer said he was most concerned about the addition of employees in the Health and Human Services Agency while public safety departments continued to suffer when “we did leave money on the table.”
Espinosa said Muenzer was referring to an overpayment from the general fund to HHSA in a previous year of close to $2 million. Earlier this year, the department staff came forward with a plan to move $1.6 million from the HHSA budget into the general fund for the 2013-14 fiscal year.
“Supervisor Muenzer is highlighting that difference, but we would have to come back and examine everything if we want to go back and pull that difference into the general fund,” Espinosa said.
Nadine DaRoza, of HHSA, said the six positions already approved for HHSA and four additional positions are covered by realignment money or other funding outside the general fund.
“We do know healthcare reform is coming and we have more eligible people in this community,” DaRoza said. “We need to meet those needs.”
She stressed the HHSA funding could not be moved into the general fund for public safety needs.
“These are non-general fund monies,” she said. “We cannot fund a sheriff’s deputy.”
Supervisors recommended using contingency money to fund one deputy position, with direction to staff members to continue looking for other potential sources of funding before the June 17 budget hearing.
