Supervisors today heard reports on the status of state and
county finances in light of California’s $25 billion budget gap,
and a top official noted how the local budget is out of balance by
about $500,000. Staff members are exploring more cost-cutting
ideas, which already have included eliminating 19 vacant positions,
cutting employee travel, surplussing county-owned vehicles and
removing coffee and water services for employees.
HOLLISTER
Supervisors today heard reports on the status of state and county finances in light of California’s $25 billion budget gap, and a top official noted how the local budget is out of balance by about $500,000.
County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson told supervisors that to close the gap, staff members are exploring more cost-cutting ideas, which already have included eliminating 19 vacant positions, cutting employee travel, selling surplus county-owned vehicles and removing coffee and water services for employees.
“I can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spent working with departments on the dibs and dabs,” Thompson said. “We are now beyond that.”
Two new major cost-saving measures include a voluntary time-off program and working with employee unions to reduce staff costs. Thompson did not elaborate on discussions with the unions due to “good-faith” negotiations. If the measures are not approved by the employees, she said, “We will have to bring more Draconian reductions.”
The county also has gone ahead with some layoffs, such as two discussed today at the board meeting. Those positions were a staff analyst and deputy clerk in the clerk-recorder’s office. The total cost for those two positions was slightly more than $138,000, said Rich Inman, internal services director. There was an additional layoff in the health department in recent weeks as well, he confirmed.
Although Thompson said the county is not “pressing the panic button,” she also noted how the county expects to lose $650,000 of Williamson Act funds to the state. Those funds come from property taxes and go toward keeping certain tracts of land specified for agriculture or open space use by contracting with the landowners. In turn, the landowner receives tax benefits for keeping the land in the appropriate designation.
Other possible cuts to the county include $1.25 million in local gas taxes, which pay for road crews and repairs, and Proposition 42 money, another funding source for road repairs.
In response to losing these funds, Thompson down the road plans to present more ideas for cutting costs including the possibility of reducing library hours, reducing some positions from full-time to part-time, additional layoffs and not hiring a county service area coordinator.
“We have to rethink that,” she said.
In response to this report, Supervisor Margie Barrios said the outlook is “grim.”
“We’re above ground, but as the comedian says, ‘We have a chalk line around us.'”
