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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM081778August 17, 1978 RECONVENED: The Board reconvened at 7:00 p,m. pursuant to recess. Present:. Supervisors Lemke, Moseley, and Chairman Winston. Clif Mickelson, administrative officer; William R. Lawrence, auditor; and Clark A. Nelson,, county clerk, by Cathy Pitts, assistant clerk to the Board. 78-1578 BUDGET HEARINGS Chairman Winston stated that he had made several statements to the veteran organizations z'elative to the Board's position in the 1978-79 budget. They were notified that the matter of the memorial halls and Veterans Service Officer would not be considered for at least 15 days. Notices went out that the hearing would be held at this time. Glen Halsey has sent the Board suggested economics within these trap areas. Chairman Winston complimented Mr, Halsey on the recommendations. This recommendation results in a tentative reduction of 21%. Glen Halsey stated that there are several recommendations that overlap. He would like to meet with the Auditor's Office and find out the exact figures. SUPERVISOR MADIGAN PRESENT AT THIS TIME. Clif Mickelson, administrative officer, stated that Dave Davis would be the person to work on this item. Administrative Office, Auditor, Dave Davis and Mr. Halsey to meet and firm up figures. The Biggs Memorial. Ha11 will be handled at a later time. The memorial halls and Veterans Service Office to remain open and operational in accordance with the recommendations presented. Mr. Halsey asked if it would help if his group went to the Glenn County Board of Supervisors meeting to talk with them regarding use of Butte County's Veterans. Service Officer. SUPERVISOR RTCHTER PRESENT AT THIS TiME. Mr, Mickelson <.to write letter to Glenn County Board of Supervisors. 78-1579 CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING - DISTRIBUTION OF STATE SURPLUS FUNDS FOR SPECIAL DISTRICTS - SB 154 The public hearing on distribution of SB 154 state surplus funds for special districts was held as continued. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board recessed at 7:20 p.mo to hold an executive session regarding meet and confer. RECONVENED: The Board reconvened at 7:30 p.m. following an executive session regarding meet and confer. Bob Paulus, fire warden, reported on study of fire protection districts in the county. E1 Medio has all volunteers and fits within the scheme of the Butte County Fire Department. There is not much cutting that can be done and still maintain the mandate to stay at 1977-78 level. They agreed to take one engine and doing something with fixed assetso There is not much that can be done there and still meet the law. Paradise Fire Protection District is larger and more complex. The distxict has eliminated overtime, They have reduced their engines from 3-1/2 to 3~engineso Mro Paulus looked at combined dispatch with the Paradise District. This will save money but cannot be done overnight, This would be tied to the 911 phone number, The district has done just about everything they can do to cut down on expenses. The biggest cost Page 1910 August 17, 1978 August 17, 1978 is manpoweraad benefits. This is 85% of the budget. The only other way to cut the budget would be to cut manpower. Then they are not going to meet the intent of the legislationo The district moved the duty officers off an administrative shift and put on the line and manning stations. They have affected every economy they cano The level of fire protection is better, than the county. The people have voted for a higher level of fire protection. Cuts in employees would change the insurance rating> The insurance raters give credit for volunteer firemen. For every three volunteers the districts receive credit for one mono This is what saves Butte County Fire Department. Paradise runs two men on an engine supported by volunteers, The district is heavy in administrationo There are three chief officers and duty officers. This makes good sense. If the officers are reduced, there is no way to know what tape of impact there will be. flick Puelicher, chief accountant, stated that the Auditor's Office has revised figures for Paradise Fire Protection Districto It shows an anticipated deficit of $346,134. John To11e, Paradise Fire Protection District, stated that SB 2212 authorizes cities to review and establish its policy and the counties are to review and establish their policies. There is nothing that says that anyone can review the fire districts. He accepted the request of the Board to review the district. He met with Mr. Paulus and went over the program, The administrative levels are less than the City of Chico and many other citieso SB 2212, section A-1 states that the body shall provide sufficient funds to maintain at the same level as 1977-78. Section B-1 talks about using reserves. Paradise Fire Protection District felt that they would accept no reserve. The Board should make an effort to get a second allotment, Mr. To11e was advised that the Board had written a letter to Senator Nedjerly in support if his bill, The following was alloted to the fire protection districts: Paradise Fire Protection District: $346,000 CSA 53, Upper Ridge Structural Fire: $49,000 Discussion of distribution on priority basis to those districts dependent upon property taxes held at this time. Mr. Mickelson stated that there is concerns about the Butte County Fire Department. They have tried every way possible to get assistance through the state legislature. Mike Pyeatt, deputy administrative officer, stated that the general fund reserves of the special districts must be considered in prioritizing, General fund reserves with 5% or Iess shall be given priority over districts with more than 5% reserve. Bill Lawrence, auditor, set out the reason for the priority list being established as it was. The Iist was made up of districts most dependent upon property taxes and then was decided on the 5% class. This list is what was determined as having the most priority, The library was deleted from consideration under the special district distribution of SB 154 funds. It was felt that the Library should be funded out of the general government budget as several of the districts have problems that oould be met with SB 154 funds. Page 192, August 17, 1978 August 17, 1978 Mas uito Abatement Districts Ted Haines, Durham Mosquito Abatement District, stated that the district could get by without SB 154 fundse The Mosquito Abatement Districts to be excluded fram consideration of SB 154 funds. Maintenance Areas Maintenance areas to be excluded from consideration of SB 154 funds. Drainage Districts Mr. Nickelson reported that Jerome Peters stated that they would not show up. They will try and make it wt'.iout the funds. Two of the districts go across county lines. There are other avenues open to themo The drainage districts to be excluded from consideration of SB 154 funds. County Service Area 37, Gridley-Biggs Ambulance Supervisor Richter felt that the Gridley-Biggs Ambulance should come before the recreation districts. Mr. Nickelson stated that people over there have supported the services when they could pay the tariff. According to property tax they cannot pay the tariff. There are other areas with similar population that do not have ambulance service. He did not believe the county could continue to fund this year after year. Mr, Nickelson asked the Board to instruct his office to get together with the company and the people and see if by next year they can pay through some other manner. No action taken on request. On motion of Supervisor Richter, seconded by Supervisor Moseley and unanimously carried, an estimated $20,778 was allocated to CSA 37 subject to revision by Auditor's Office. Recreation and Park Districts Terry Ashe, Paradise Recreation and Park District, stated that with the estimate of revenue and fund:-. balances the district will be about 30% short of last year's budget. It is anticipated that the district will lay off somewhere between three and five employees. Mr. hawrence stated that Chico Area Recreation and Park Bistrict does have fund balances available and with othererevenue this would give them a surplus, Jerry Hughes;, Chico Area Recreation and Park District, stated that the figure is predicated on the hope that the tax allocation is in fact going to be correcto He does not quarrel with any of the other figures. Mr. Hughesc presented mateiial to the Board relative to revenue sQUrces and fees charges for programs. Mr. Nickelson reported on the fees being charges by Paradise Recreation District. They are the same level of the other districts. The other districts get greater participation to generate large amounts of money. Supervisor Richter stated that he was concerned with the Durham Park and Recreation District because of the large allocation of capital interest and principal payment on a loan paid out of proportion to the other districts. Page 193. August 17, 1978 August 17, 1978 Mr. Lawrence stated that this is only the second year in a 10-year loan. The interest is still high on the loan because the principal has not been reduced yet. The payment is due in August and the payment amount had to accrue the prior year. This has to show up in the budget with - double budgeting and reserve for the following year. They might be able to handle in their own district if it had not been county wide. There is another fund for covering payments under non-voted debt that is available to the districts.. They can make application to the loan fund. This must be paid in three years and they have to fulfill the loan. Durham has the park and the pool. Judy Wagoner, Durham Park and Recreation District, stated that they have been checking with the people who bought the bonds. This is confidential information and it is very difficult to deal with these people. There is $29,000 in the budget for operating expenses after the loan payment is made. The district can borrow the money from the loan fund but that will have to be paid back in three years. If the district defaults, tine agreement say that the parties can take them to court and they would have to pay court costs. This would be more money. The amount that has to be put in the reserve for July 1979 is $42,242. The budget would show a cut of operating costs by 25% to 30%. The only income is the pool and park. The pool is the oonly money making project and it is seasonal. Sonny Brandt, Feather River Park and Recreation District, stated that the district will have to cut back. Funding is now available for the Feather River Enhancement Project and the South Side project. The board has chosen to go ahead with those projects. Chairman Winston stated that Feather River Recreation District shows $239,000 for capital improvements which shows as fixed assets for South Side Park and Nelson Avenue completion. If the district has a deficit of $251,000 would the capital projects go down the tube. Mr. Brandt felt that they would. Mr. Ashe stated that Paradise Park and Recreation has suspended any capital improvements and fixed assets except for funds for grassing the ballpark. The district would be about 30% short and they are looking at lay offs of about three or five of the fifteen full time employess. ~.;_- ?NFr:sAughes set out the reason the Chico Area Recreation District shows a Iarge amount, There have been two full time employees layed off. There has been a cut back on the part time staff by about 35% to 40%, which is how they operate, The district has totally cut all fixed assets. The reason. for the high carryover is because of the large master plan program the district was getting ready to start. The funds have been building up for that reason. The district chose to put these funds back into the operating costs this year, Page II of the Administrative Office's memo should be changed to reflectao?- $149,147 at the bottoms of 1977-78 year. The remaining $63,000 was from other sources. This does not change -the total amount of the budget. It changes the character of what was received Iasi year. The other recreation districts agreed that Durham had the worst problem. Dale Anderson, chairman Paradise Recreation and Park District, stated that he would agree that Durham has a bigger problem. Mr. Brandt stated that the district has a draft of the facility finance summary. This will show what is provided, what casts are, and what the income will be. Page i94. August I7, I978 August 17, 1978 Mro Mickelson stated that he and Mr. Lawrence agree that they would rather see the problems of the independent recreation districts met and suffer through the Gridley and Biggs swimming pools. Maybe between raising of charges and perhaps cooperation of the cities and the schools something could be done, On motion of Supervisor Richter, seconded by Supervisor Moseley and unanimously carried, $42 ~000~~wasdallocateds~fi~o Durham Recreation and Park District. Mr. Anderson stated that from the standpoint of what we have and what is going to happen to the people working full timed One district mentioned allowing new building with a short fall as opposed to laying off employees. He felt this was unbalancedo Mr. Brandt set out the Nelson Avenue development and the South Side Park development. The district feels they can maintain the level of service by minimum cutbacks and hopefully not lay off employees. Most of, the fixed assets are state bond money. There is state money for Nelson Avenue and South Side developmentso If these are deleted from the budget, the district would not get money. The district had hoped to blacktop the Nelson Avenue site and therefore cut costs in .the area by keeping the improvements and maintenance down. R1;L~ES5: 1.9:00 p.mo RECONVENE: 9:05 p.m. North Burbank Utility District Mr. Mickelson stated that one of the positions on the sewer districts was that they could levy other service charges, Mr. Lawrence stated that North. Burbank Utility District did not respond to the .inquiry from his office. The line under the district says not available. Mr. ituntze stated that he would get with the Auditor's Office and have the information for them. Recreation and Park Districts Supervisor Lemke felt that because of the fixed asset program in the Feather Rive~r.District and the services being denied in the Paradise area that the balance of the $127,000 be divided with $42,000 going to Feather River and $85,000 going to Paradise. Mr. Lawrence set out the difference between the Feather River and Paradise Recreation Districts. _,_~~ Paradise Feather River Shortage. $155,502 $251,665 General reserve (-) 2.,000 (-) 18,818 ACO reserve (=) 55,500 -0- Contingencies 36,000 84,000 deficit $ 98,002 $232,847 deficit with contingencies eliminated $ 62,100 $148,847 Page I95. August 17, 1978 August 17, 1978 Mr. Brandt stated that the district is not considering laying off full time employees at the present time. The district. is expecting to realize the bond grant money this year. The district will continue to cut part time help. If openings are due to attrition they will not be filled. The district hopes to cover their budget. They were not expecting to receive surplus money. He realizes the problems, The district felt their changes of obtaining the funds were as good as anyone elses. Supervisor Lemke stated that Paradise is looking at possibility of laying off 1/3 of their full time staff. This would make a serious dent in their program. This is not counting part time help. Mr. Anderson stated that this has not been a matter of choice. All of the three districts have done an excellent job to cut as much cost as possible. The District is trying to look at changes of fees. This is an on-going program. The programs will be reviewd through. the remainder of this year and next year. It was moved by Supervisor Richter, seconded by Supervisor Moseley that the remaining money be divided evenly between Feather River and Paradise Recreation Districts. Mr. Nickelson stated that the proportionate operating cost of the two districts is pretty close; 53% for Paradise and 47% for Feather Rivera Mr. Lawrence stated that the scope of the two districts activities should be taken into consideration. Both districts had about the same percentage of carryover. Feather River has more capital outlay than Paradise. Motion withdrawn. It was moved by Supervisor Richter, seconded by Supervisor Moseley that 60% of the remaining money go to Feather River and 40% go to Paradise. Mr. Hughes stated that he wanted to clear the reason CARD is not being considered for any portion is because of the report from the Auditor that shows a surplus for-the district. He wanted in the record that CARD mad an effort to cut expenses. Supervisor hLemke stated that in followup to Mr. Hughes' statement about reducing the budget he would call atten~ipn that Paradise has also cut their budget while Feather River is 1/3 to 1/4 higher. Mr. Anderson stated that Feather River can raise $100,000 of their $900,000 budget while Paradise can raise $25,000 of their $416,000 budget. Nr. Nickelson stated that CARD and Paradise salaries went down while Feather River had a $64,000 increase, Jim Cook, BCEA, stated that Paradise pays their employees more than Feather River does. Vote on motion: AYES: Supervisors Moseley and Richter NOES: Supervisors Lemke, Madigan and Chairman Fiinston Motion fails.. Page 196. August 17, 1978 August 17, 1978 On motion of Supervisor I<emke,Tseconded by Supervisor Madigan and unanimously carried, $50,000 was allocated to Feather River and $77,000 was allocated to Paradise Recreation District. 78-1580 BUDGET HEARINGS The continued budget hearing was held at this time to consider the tourism and promotion program. Appearing: 1, Todd Radke. Mr. Radke stated that this $oard has $50,000 that it has yet to allocate. The Board deemed not to fund the Development Commission. Mr. Radke set out his reasons that the money should go to tourism: (1) in 19b7 the transient tax was to go into the general fund but was to be used for tourism; (2) the intent of Proposition 13 was not to make up the loss of revenue from property tax with the bed tax; (3) the figures from other counties and states shows the money would be well spent; (4) this is a chance for the Board to fund something to~?brng in tax money to private businesses. 2. Dale Schwyer. Mr. Schwyer stated that he was not speaking in support of the funding proposal. He appeared before the Board to support any effort in terms of planned tourism as it affects our county. Mr. Schwyer is a member of the 12 counties planning team that looked at tourism and the impact on the northern state. It is the second or third largest industry. Any opportunity the county has to be involved in planned tourism should be supported. 3. Mary Nevin, Paradise Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Nevin stated that she was speaking for the Paradise motel owners. They are again asking that a budget be adopted. The plan as submitted to the Board would be funded by transient occupancy taxes from the motel owners. The funds are needed to promote more money for the county. Mrs. Nevin referred to the Board minutes of January 31, 1967 relative to the tax. Mrs. Nevin asked the Board to consider one of three choicese (1) accept proposal for tourism program as submitted; (2) accept a scaled down plan for this year; (3) If neither of the above are accepted, the proprietors of Paradise request that the tax no longer be collected. Supervisor Richter felt that the people were entit$ed to an answer, He appreciated that fact that Supervisor McKillop made the motion to allocate money for the purposes stated. He felt that you could argue that its quite reasonable and rational for the people to levy a tax far recreation and motels to defray the general cost of the county without any need to provide the money to the motel owners for promotion. He felt the convention program would be a fine thing if there was a lot of money. On motion of Supervisor Richter, seconded by Supervisor Madigan and unanimously carried, the transient occupancy tax will be left in the general fund and will not be coxmri:fted to any type of program for convention purposes. Reserves in the road department budget and in-lieu funds to be discussed at the next budget session. The budget session is continued to August 23, 1978 at 7:00 p.m. RECESS: The Board recessed at 10:00 p.m. to reconvene on Tuesday, August 22, 1978 at 9:00 a.m. Page 197. August 17, 1978