Board discusses proposed budget cuts

 

It’s not business as usual for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors as it considers slashing programs and handing down cuts to accommodate an estimated $26 million budget deficit.

Over the next few months the board will consider cutting almost $25 million in county services and programs.

Though the final decision will come in June, when the board adopts the 2008 fiscal year budget, supervisors already are making their priorities clear.

In a budget workshop Feb. 25, the board scratched the surface of possible programs or services that could be cut and discussed prospective opportunities the county may have to generate additional revenues.

 

“We certainly aren’t alone,” said 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone.

“This is not just a Santa Barbara County problem…This is a general problem around the nation…The choices are difficult.”

Six county departments, including Health and Public Assistance, Support Services and Law and Justice are facing cuts. Public Safety, which encompasses the Sheriff’s department, the fire department and probation, is facing the largest cuts, possibly over $11 million.

County CEO Michael Brown presented the board with two budget cut possibilities, one that recommended various departments meet a target reduction totaling over $15.5 million, and a second option that would add over $9.2 million to the $15.5 million figure.

Though it declined to make specific decisions, the board voted unanimously to consider the second budget cut option.

 

“All policies have consequences,” Brown said.

“But what this means is that some of the things we have been doing, we may not be able to do until the economy changes.”

The county could layoff as many as 102 full-time employees as a result of the proposed cuts and may even consider offering employees the option of taking pre-scheduled unpaid furlough days to help save money on personnel.

Walt Hamilton, executive director for Service Employees International Union, Local 620, which represents some 2,000 county employees, recommended the board consider “Golden Handshakes,” which could afford county employees the opportunity to retire early and allow the county to reduce its number of employees.

 

While the board seemed to be splashing around in water when discussing budget reduction options, it did identify a few revenue enhancement options.

Unlike the City of Ventura, the county will not consider instituting a fee for calling 911.

It also threw out revenue options, including charging county employees $50 a month for parking and charging residents a 10 percent surcharge tax for local telephone services.

Notwithstanding the dismissed options, the board agreed to toss around other choices, which it instructed Brown to bring back in June.

Some of the ideas included instituting a $4 all-day beach parking fee, installing flash ticket cameras at county intersections and instituting an oil severance tax.

First District Supervisor, Salud Carbajal reminded the full room of spectators, which included county employees from various departments and other members of the public, that the proposed budget cuts were not cast in stone.

 

“We’re going to deal with these issues specifically in June,” he said. “We will roll up our sleeves at that point, but these are good guiding principles.”

He added that he hoped county departments would identify the impacts and implications of the proposed budget cuts.

Janet Wolf, 2nd District Supervisor, recommended the board be “penny wise.”

“Let’s make the right cuts and be smart,” she said.

The budget discussion seemed to inspire Firestone to make a short concluding speech about the county’s financial position.

 

He recommended that everyone in the county, including residents, take a “long, hard, look” at the financial crises.

“As this is my last term, I have a unique perspective…I started business 35 years ago in this county. I’m not sure I would do it now.

“What has happened is very real and life has changed in this county and we’re libel to pay a price for that,” he said.

To view and download a copy of the proposed budget cuts and the presentation given at the budget workshop, visit www.countyofsb.org.