The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved a proposed
budget Tuesday that would use more than $3 million in reserves and
across-the-board cuts to avoid substantial program losses or
layoffs.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved a proposed budget Tuesday that would use more than $3 million in reserves and across-the-board cuts to avoid substantial program losses or layoffs.
For now, approval of a proposed budget means imperiled programs and departments – such as 4-H and the Marshal’s Office – would survive. But the county’s fire services contracted with the California Department of Forestry would take a $160,000 hit, meaning the Beaver Dam department in Paicines would close during winter months.
The 2004-05 proposal from County Administrative Officer Dan Vrtis would erase a $4.1 million shortfall projected after department heads made their original budget requests in April. The budget becomes final after public hearings in early August, where residents can weigh in and the board has discretion to change the proposed $72.9 million slate of expenses. Last year’s budget was $64.3 million.
Tuesday’s ratification allows the county to start spending money before a final approval. San Benito is delaying that to wait for the state to approve its budget, as many county expenses are either funded or required by California government.
Vrtis commended department heads, saying they deserve credit for shouldering the extra cuts and erasing the once monstrous shortfall. Recently, Vrtis asked the 13 department heads to chisel another 5 percent off their budgets. They followed through with an additional $900,000 in savings, he said.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication from the staff,” Vrtis said.
As employee costs have skyrocketed – workers’ salaries and benefits compose most of the budget – officials figured ways to trim their expenses without layoffs, according to Vrtis. The county also plans to use a chunk of its $22 million in reserves to balance the budget.
Only three workers would lose their jobs under the proposal. They’re all in Community Services and Workforce Development. Because that department’s solely funded by federal and state grants – which will diminish this fiscal year – the board approved those layoffs Tuesday.
In other departments, vacant positions will remain empty, and roles opened through retirements won’t be filled, Vrtis said. A county hiring freeze will remain in effect indefinitely.
Even with the employee workforce remaining at 455 positions, individual departmental budgets are set to jump with rising costs of retirement plans, health insurance and workers’ compensation, according to Management Analysis Susan Lyons.
The District Attorney’s Office budget, for example, would jump from $800,000 to $909,000, according to the proposal. That’s essentially from personnel cost increases such as benefits and workers compensation, Lyons said.
And the Sheriff’s Department’s slate of expenses would increase by $400,000. But Sheriff Curtis Hill also has to contend with steeper costs of health care at the San Benito County Jail. The county recently agreed to an annual contract for those services that costs about $200,000 more than the previous fiscal year, Lyons pointed out.
Other changes in the 2004-05 budget would include:
– The County Counsel’s Office adopted budget allocation would jump by $263,000. That’s because the office will now earmark $250,000 for private lawyer costs, instead of pulling such funding from county coffers as legal issues arise.
– Although the proposal wouldn’t eliminate funding to the University of California Cooperative Extension – which administers 4-H – the county would cut that allocation by $10,000. Both the county and 4-H agreed the club could make up the difference through donations.
“Yes I am (pleased), given that we were facing zero (dollars),” said 4-H youth adviser Pat Johns.
– Funding to parks would decrease from $70,000 to $33,000 – meaning improvements at the Historical Park wouldn’t be done this year, Lyons said.
– The veterans services allocation would drop from $46,000 to $38,000.
Several aspects of the budget can’t be computed yet.
Although Marshal Robert Scattini’s office likely won’t close as previously speculated, it’s still unclear if his or Hill’s department will handle court security. Currently, they split the duties.
The Superior Court wants one department to provide all the bailiffs and will examine which department can do it for less money in the coming weeks, Scattini said. While the marshal likely will continue his role of serving court documents, Vrtis said.
“I’m happy with it. At least I’m still alive,” Scattini said.
And the Elections Department continues its efforts to comply with the federal government’s orders to provide more services for Spanish-speaking voters.
Tuesday, the board approved a job description and recruitment for a bilingual election program coordinator. Other federal mandates, such as hiring an additional deputy clerk and purchasing more resources for voters, aren’t resolved yet.
A copy of the proposed budget can be viewed at the San Benito County Administration Building, 481 Fourth Street.
