Cost increases set for law enforcement, economic development,
library
Hollister – San Benito County officials are considering a $113.6 million budget that includes a number of cost increases, including extra dollars for law enforcement, economic development and the San Benito County Free Library bookmobile.
The Board of Supervisors scrutinized the budget at hearings Aug. 7, 8 and 9. Final approval isn’t scheduled until Aug. 28, but County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson said that vote will be “pretty much a technical event.”
Thompson and several supervisors agreed that the county has a “tight budget” for the coming year.
“We are very concerned and very conservative in spending money unnecessarily,” Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz said.
Despite a relatively small increase in expenses – up $2.5 million from fiscal year 2006-07 – supervisors and staff found room for several new programs. Thompson noted that the district attorney’s office would receive funds for a new assistant district attorney and a new investigator to focus on fighting gang violence.
Supervisor Pat Loe said she’s glad the budget draft includes money for economic development, which was a hot topic at a board retreat earlier this year.
“We’re not just talking about it,” she said. “We’re actually investing in it.”
The budget also would revive the library bookmobile that was shut down in 2003.
The proposed budget is balanced, but only because of tough choices by county department heads, Thompson said. As the supervisors wrapped up the budget hearings Thursday, they discovered a deficit of around $400,000. Every department head came up with additional cuts to such items as office expenses and travel budgets that together brought spending back in line.
“There was a tremendous effort on the part of the department heads to come forward and shave the budget significantly,” Board Chairman Don Marcus said.
De La Cruz added that the supervisors accepted some cuts themselves. For one thing, the board won’t be buying new chairs.
“The ones we have right now, we can use for another year or two,” De La Cruz said. “I’ll sit on a milk carton if I have to.”
The budget may be tight, but spending is increasing. In Hollister and San Juan Bautista, on the other hand, structural deficits mean budgets and services have been cut. One reason for the difference, Thompson said, is that the county is responsible for the local implementation of state and federal programs, and receives state and federal dollars for that purpose.
“I don’t think you can really compare the two entities, the county and the cities,” she said.
But the county’s reliance on state and federal programs adds uncertainty to the proceedings, since the State Senate has yet to approve its budget. If there are any big surprises, Thompson said the supervisors may have to revisit the budget and make some changes.
“With the state budget, I can’t really say what’s on the table right now,” she said. “I don’t think anyone can.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or
ah*@fr***********.com
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