San Benito County supervisors last week touted what appears in
the books as nearly $90,000 in savings, while more than a quarter
of that amount comes from the remaining figure for the now-departed
interim planning director.
San Benito County supervisors last week touted what appears in the books as nearly $90,000 in savings, while more than a quarter of that amount comes from the remaining figure for the now-departed interim planning director.
Supervisors at last week’s meeting agreed to cut an additional $89,141 total from three departments after ad hoc committees – established during the budget hearing – found new areas to save money in public works, the planning and building department and the library. The entire 2010-11 general fund budget is about $37 million.
Despite the cuts, Supervisor Anthony Botelho called for a bigger a bigger reduction from the county’s departments.
“We are at a crisis and the longer we put it aside – it will just backfire on us,” he said.
The board asked for additional cuts from the county budget during hearings earlier this year. During those hearings, supervisors agreed to set up committees to look through every county department’s budget to find additional savings. Tuesday’s meeting brought up the first additional cuts to some departments.
All changes and savings are effective this fiscal year, according to the staff report.
In public works, the board agreed to cut $3,750 from travel, training and meetings for the parks and recreation commission. Also, the department shifted the work of some of its employees to federally funded bridge projects – saving money from their salaries, according to the staff report.
The department will also reduce meetings from monthly to quarterly.
The total estimated savings from public works is $54,710.
In the planning and building department, the board agreed to eliminate the remaining $25,000 that was allocated to Cathy Woodbury’s interim director salary. The permanent director, Gary Armstrong, has succeeded her.
“With the hiring of the new Planning and Building Director, it has been determined that these services are no longer needed,” according to the report.
In addition, though, the board agreed to reduce the planning commission meetings to once per month.
The smallest reduction came from the library, which cut $9,431 from its budget. Most of the reduction will come from books and computer supplies. Another $3,371 will be cut from travel and training.
The document also outlines the possible decrease of $34,460 from temporary salaries but that reduction would cut off hours from the library and its bookmobile, Librarian Nora Conte said. The sub-committee was told to re-assess the possible reduction at the meeting.
The board plans to review possible cuts to the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office and county treasurer later this month.
