PROPOSED STATE BUDGET: The California State budget
is projected to be from $`14-19 billion in the hole. The proposed Governor’s budget
would have significant impacts on the County budget. Federal/ State programs that the
County implements, such as Human Services, Behavioral Health and Child Support, would have
funding cut by 10%. State payments to the County, (such as gas tax) and reimbursements for
services rendered, (such as mental health and human services,) would be delayed up to six
months. This would affect cash flow and may require the County to borrow money to operate.
Law enforcement funding would be affected. There would be a reduction
of $50,000 to the Rural and Small County Sheriff’s Program, a 10% reduction in COPS
funding, and a 10% reduction in funding of the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act.
Funding for Drug Court under Prop. 36 will drop from 90 participants to only 35. In
addition, the State will be releasing 22, 000 prisoners back into their communities.
Likely re-offenders could make additional
demands on our County jail, where there is already a four to six months waiting period to
serve sentences.
Congress has failed to reauthorize the Community Schools and
Communities Self-Determination funds. This $9 million payment replaced timber receipts
lost when harvest on National Forests was curtailed under the Northwest Forest Plan. The
money was previously split between local
Schools and the County, with the bulk of the County payment going to pay for County roads.
The Governor’s budget also proposes to drop the $800,000 the State repays to the
County for loss in tax revenues from Williamson Act contracts to preserve open space.
The cruelest cut of all comes from a proposal by the State
Legislative Analyst recommending cancellation of the recent designation of our new
county-wide Enterprise Zone.
CAL FIRE/California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection: County Fire
Warden, Bernie Paul, gave County Supervisors an over-view of 2007 activities. There were
4,040 calls for medical aid; 1,011 calls for public assistance; 144 calls for HAZMAT
(Hazardous Material spills); 201 vegetation fires; 120 structural fires and 693 “other”
fires. 74 percent of emergency calls were
answered by our volunteer fire and emergency services; 15 percent by Cal Fire; 9 percent
by the Klamath National Forest and 2 percent by the Shasta Trinity National Forest.
The trend for “incident” calls has been steadily climbing.
In 1986 there were 1,486 calls. In 1990 there were 2,816 calls; 1996 - 4,550 calls; 1999
– 5030 calls; and 2007- 6,209 calls. If current trends are projected, call volume
will increase to 7,379 calls in 2012 and 8,083 in 2017.
My own observations are that it is of concern to note that, according
to the report entitled “The Graying of the North State,” the population of Siskiyou
County age 65 and over is projected to comprise 18 percent of the population in 2010 and
27 percent by 2020. In the northern 12 counties, the population age 85 and older is
expected to increase 150 percent by 2030. This
means that a greater number of medical calls could be anticipated. However, the probable
population physically qualified and willing to serve as volunteer first responders will
most likely decline. This draws attention to the need for planning and additional funding
to sustain our local fire and emergency services – to perhaps consider some
transition to a partially paid service force.
In the meanwhile, our greatest appreciation goes out to the many
volunteers who continue to make the commitment to take the hours of required training and
to show up to assist when their fellows call in for help. You are, indeed, heroes in our
eyes. The need for new volunteers continues to be great. If you are able to volunteer,
please call your local Fire Chief or Cal Fire. You can also help in fundraising and
support. Call and find out how. |
