The Board of Supervisors has
completed its projected budget for fiscal year 2007-2008, which will end in June. The
total budget has been set at $141 million dollars, although revenues are about $136
million. (The difference is carryover of fund balance - unspent funds or additional
revenue from the prior year.) A large part of the money budgeted is earmarked for
federal/state programs such as Human Services ($22 million,) Behavioral Health ($17
million,) Public Health ($5 million) and Child Support Services ($3 million.)
The Road Department comes in at around $22 million. This is primarily
funded by money from gas taxes. This year we did receive a one year extension on the $ 4
million dollar federal Secure Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act money. (This
federal payment is based on former pre-northwest spotted owl income from 25% of timber
receipts from harvest on federal lands.) Recently, Public Works Director Brian McDermott
and Board of Supervisor’s Chair Jim Cook went back to Washington D.C. to lobby for
reauthorization of the act. The Public Land
Communities Transition Act Of 2007 is one of the bills underway to continue funding. It
has just passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. This money also helps to
fund General County Fire at $405,000. This money funds
the CalFire Amador Stations in Hornbrook and McCloud, as well as central dispatchers,
trainers and some minimal support for county Voluntary Hose Companies.
The Sheriff and jail get
about $17 million and the District Attorney about $3 million. In Home Support Services for
the elderly and disabled runs around $760,000. The airports are about $915,000 and the
various landfill sites around $2 million. STAGE (public transportation) runs around $4
million.
The General Fund comes in at
$31 million. This is the area where we have the most discretion in allocating money. It
goes to fund County Counsel, the Administrator, the Treasurer, the Auditor, the
Clerk, the Assessor, the Board of Supervisors, the Library, the Recorder, the Building and
Planning Departments and the Agricultural Commissioner.
In his analysis of the
budget, former County Administrative Officer Barry Shioshita, explained in his budget
message that the County revenue stream is basically flat lining. Although we are picking
up some additional tax revenues (property tax, TOT and sales tax,) the state and federal
governments have cut funding to various programs. Department Heads were asked to remain
the status quo with our prior year to balance the budget.
The County also has some
glaring infrastructure needs that need to be addressed some way in the future. The Sheriff’s
Office building has serious water leaks and is deteriorating. The state and courts are
concerned about the County Courthouse and would like to see substantial improvements made.
The jail is overcrowded, currently necessitating a six month wait to serve jail sentences.
Former Grand Jury reports have also pointed out the negative affect that the cost of rent
in the current Behavioral Health Building has on our ability to provide substance abuse services.
(These state programs are funded at a flat amount and are not based on client numbers.) It
will be a challenging year. |
