Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County President
Nancy Martin asked the board of supervisors for more money Tuesday
after showing the EDC had losses of more than $50,000 last year,
but officials appeared hesitant to allocate it.
Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County President Nancy Martin asked the board of supervisors for more money Tuesday after showing the EDC had losses of more than $50,000 last year, but officials appeared hesitant to allocate it.
The EDC losses were covered by reserves last fiscal year, she said.
After giving a 20-minute presentation, Martin asked the board for an additional $20,000 on top of the current $50,000 contribution. Martin received an additional $25,000 from the city – to increase that total to $75,000 – last month.
Martin said she needed the money to hire an administrative assistant. She did say that if she didn’t receive the extra money, her plans will progress but at a slower pace.
“Things get drawn out – there is only one of me,” Martin said. “So we will have to prioritize.”
The board opted not to make a decision but instead to wait until its budget hearings next month. A majority of the board said it would be difficult to give additional money to the EDC.
“I just don’t see it right now that we can approve further expenditures in our department,” Supervisor Anthony Botelho said. “All of us have to work harder with less.”
Supervisor Pat Loe said she didn’t think it was the right time to funnel more money to the EDC or any other program.
“I’m having a hard time allocating money for anything right now,” she said.
After hearing Martin wanted to use the money to hire an assistant, Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz asked why she couldn’t hire someone from the One-Stop Center, which partners with the EDC.
Martin responded that the EDC couldn’t spend time training someone. One Stop Director Enrique Arreola said the agency had discussed it but determined Martin needed an already trained employee who didn’t have confined hours.
De La Cruz also recommended Martin to take a 5 percent pay cut to help balance the budget, but she did not respond.
See the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
