Ledger-Dispatch

By Bethany A. Monk (bmonk@ledger-dispatch.com) =

Temporary transfers and cross-training=20 opportunities at the Land Use and Public Works agencies could = occur as=20 part of the county's budget.

Photo by: Bethany A.=20 Monk
It has increased, but by all accounts, = one=20 might call it a modest proposal.

The Amador County 2008-09 = recommended=20 expenditures budget, which county supervisors will discuss and possibly = approve=20 today, presents just a 1 percent increase from last year's budgeted = $72.9=20 million, bringing the recommended expenditures for next fiscal year to = $73.4=20 million. After Terri Daly, the county's administrative officer, = approached the=20 board last Tuesday seeking approval of the recommended budget, board = members=20 agreed further review and discussion of the item needed to take place = before=20 taking action on the issue.

"The very modest increase is = primarily due to=20 contracted personnel increases," according to a document from Daly = available in=20 last week's board packet. "The Services and Supplies categories are = essentially=20 flat, thanks to department heads who held to a 'no-increase' strategy = within the=20 department budgets."

General fund expenditures are scheduled to = increase=20 by $3.2 million to $45.6 million, mostly from a $1.7 million = contribution to the=20 Capital Improvement Budget to pay for projects already in the works, = Daly's=20 report further states. Other costs in the proposed budget include = $500,000 for=20 ongoing efforts to finish the landfill closure; another $500,000 for = outside=20 county counsel to help prevent negative impacts from additional Indian = gaming=20 casinos in the county; and $460,000 for the county's planning department = to=20 continue covering general plan update efforts. "I anticipate that these = savings=20 will balance the budget," Daly said last week.

On June 17, the = board=20 approved three programs proposed by Daly to help further reduce staff = costs.=20 These programs include an early retirement incentive, a voluntary = furlough=20 option and temporary transfers.

The early retirement program is = eligible=20 to full-time permanent and part-time employees who have worked at least = five=20 years with the county. Employees must also qualify for a PERS service = retirement=20 during the 2008-09 fiscal year. The voluntary furlough program, would = give=20 employees the option of taking time off work, which would reduce their = pay up to=20 10 percent. Temporary transfers and cross-training opportunities are = also being=20 explored. Daly will present the proposed 2008-09 budget to the board of=20 supervisors today.

Bethany A. = Monk