Supervisors ink final budget
| Tuesday, Jul 21 2009 06:47 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Jul 21 2009 08:19 PM
Kern County Supervisors used $7.09 million from their $32 million fiscal stability reserve to patch the final hole in their annual budget Tuesday.
There was nearly no debate about the plan just before 7 p.m. Tuesday.
"I'm not that uncomfortable (using fiscal stability reserves) having cut $100 million in the last six months," said Supervisor Mike Maggard.
But the bulk of Tuesday's marathon meeting was far from comfortable.
Supervisors spent much of the day swimming through the core of more than 30 county departments' individual budgets.
For most of the day they ignored the $7 million sword hanging over their head — the budget deficit the county budget was expected to face after state leaders capture local tax funds to rescue the state spending plan.
"At the end of the day we still have a $7 million shortfall," Supervisor Jon McQuiston said just before 5 p.m.
Despite the deficit, Supervisors found a few gems they wanted to protect in the recesses of the 2009-2010 fiscal year's budget.
They gave $200,000 to the Parks and Recreation Department to fund the reopening of senior centers that were slated for closure.
They gave $300,000 to the Library Department to reduce the number of days county libraries are closed.
Parks and Libraries will have to come back to Supervisors to outline exactly where that money will be spent.
And they put $550,000 into equipment for the Kern County Fire Department - rejecting Chief Nick Dunn's request for an additional $2.3 million he wanted to start a firefighter academy in October to replace firefighters who will retire in January and March.
The biggest fight Tuesday, however, was over funding for the Department of Human Services.
Board members debated whether they would slash $2.27 million the county gave DHS a couple weeks ago when an end-of-the-year windfall came in.
In light of the state budget hit, some supervisors wanted to take that cash back.
"We're going to take back some of the money we gave back the other day," said Supervisor Don Maben.
But other supervisors warned the impacts to children and families would be massive and terrible.
"It (impacts) Kern County's poorest and most vulnerable," said Supervisor Michael Rubio.
"These are our children who have no voice," said department Director Pat Cheadle.
But supervisor Mike Maggard said the budget conflict is a chance to push the Department of Human Services to provide the most cost-effective services possible.
Supervisors approved the extra funding for the department until September pending an operational review of the Department of Human Services spending.
Supervisor Michael Rubio criticized the move, saying no other department had to have their operations torn apart to receive further county funding.
