Politics

The state’s regional water board recently ordered San Juan Bautista to pay $116,000 in fines that have collected over the past three years for continuously exceeding a salt discharge cap in the water system.

Despite a year with half the average rainfall, the San Benito County Water District estimates the current groundwater levels and stored water are sufficient to “accommodate several successive dry years with negative water budgets,” according to the annual groundwater report available on the district’s website.

Hollister Council members heard from community groups interested in being involved in this year’s application process for Community Development Block Grant funds.

With a proposed budget that includes an $850 billion surplus and a $97.6 billion general fund for the 2013-14 fiscal year, Gov. Jerry Brown painted a brighter financial future for California at Thursday's proposed budget plan roll-out.

In this video, new event manager Mark Cresswell and residents speak to council members about a 2013 motorcycle rally. 

County supervisors made an exception to their rule against offering retirement benefits for temporary employees in order to hire someone with expertise in the budget process to replace a management analyst III who retired at the end of December.

When local property changes ownership from a parent to a child or grandparent to a grandchild, the new property owners can keep the old tax rate for the property rather than having it increased based on the current value of the property. But they do need to file an exemption with the San Benito County assessor’s office and those who miss the deadline will soon be charged a late filing fee.

Hollister council members Monday elected Robert Scattini as vice mayor.

The city’s signature tradition is ready for a reawakening after five years in hibernation and gained unanimous support from the Hollister council this week.

At the first meeting of the year Tuesday, San Benito County supervisors elected Anthony Botelho to serve as chairman of the board for 2013 with Jerry Muenzer elected to serve as vice chairman.