County FY 2008 budget untenable; departments to face cuts

 

 

In the wake of the governor’s declaration of California’s fiscal emergency, Santa Barbara County is facing its own budgetary challenges, with various departments preparing for all-but-certain cuts.

“There have been several discussions at the board of supervisor’s meetings about the looming shortfalls of the budget,” said county spokesman William Boyer. “It should be no secret to anybody that we are in leaner times with property taxes down, sales tax revenues down and the emergencies that have occurred.”

 

The county also is waiting on an increased rate figure from the Retirement Board that is expected to cost the county an additional $16 million, which remains unbudgeted.

Every single department is being asked to trim their budgets and the county CEO is asking department heads to be creative in trimming their budgets, Boyer added.

The Sheriff’s department approached the board with its budget challenges at the Jan. 8 board meeting, at which the board voted 4-1 to relieve the Sheriff’s $3.7 million deficit by promising $ 3.4 million from the county’s reserve.

 

“We’ve become victim of our own success,” Sheriff Bill Brown told the board. “We’ve maintained our staffing and with the board’s approval have over-hired.

Nevertheless … we have recognized this was a very fragile budget.”

Other county departments facing budget crises may have to simply experience reduced funding, as the likelihood of receiving money from county reserves is doubtful.

Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services is one of many county programs that may have to face the effects of a trim down.

 

The program’s fiscal challenges, which date back to fiscal year 2005, have resulted in a 2008 budget shortfall of $3.4 million.

More than 20 people who use ADMH’s services warned at the Jan. 8 board meeting against cutting programs, stressing the importance of the services provided by ADMH.

“I am the mother of a county client … he’s been a challenging client and he’s doing well.

“I am so pleased with all the services we received over the years and what a difference it makes from a family member’s point of view.

 

“I just hope that these budgetary concerns will be resolved and established services will be continued,” said Holly Tatomer, a county resident.

Anna Campbell, another speaker at the meeting, connected the Sheriff’s budget shortfall with lack of ADMH services and cautioned the board against further reducing the program’s services.

“You can bet your boots that the deficit in the Sheriff’s Department is intimately connected to the lack of services and residential treatment that we already experience in the Mental Health Department.

 

The jail is full of people with mental illness and addiction,” she said.

Since the county depends on state funds to pay for most of its programs and for departmental services, it could very well come out ahead or be left picking up the pieces after the state releases the amount of money it will give to the county.

“My finger is pointing to the state. It will dictate how bad we get hit,” said 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal.

 

The county is expected to adopt its fiscal 2008 by July 1.

In the meantime, it will be holding departmental budget hearings as well as a strategic budget workshop at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the board hearing room, 105 E. Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara.