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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM09247979- ~'. 1552 September_24, 1979. _ • RECONVENE: The Board reconvened at 1:30 p.m. pursuant to recess. Present: Supervisors Dolan, Moseley, Wheeler, Winston and Chairman Lemke. Clif Mickelson, administrative officer; Jim Johansen, ,auditor; and Clark A. Nelson, county clerk, by Cathy Pitts, assistant clerk to the Board. PUBLIC HEARING: 1979-SO BUDGET AND REVENUE SHARING HEARING The public hearing on the 1979-80 budget and revenue sharing hearing was held as continued. Chairman Lemke stated that the Board would be discussing the budget and distribution of special.. district augmentation funds. They I will try to make as many decisions as possible. The problems before the Board today is that the Board has to find $2;172,026 to fund this year's budget. Somewhere in the budget the Board has to cut $2,172,026. In addition, the states has sent the county ~l million to satisfy all the needs of $2-1/2 million for special districts. There are many areas of concern. All of the people in the Board room are going to have to accept the fact that there is not enough money to do what wascbne last year. Jim Johansen, auditor, stated that the public hearing for distribution of the special district augmentation funds has been set for September 25, 1979 at 2:00 p.m. This. does not preclude the Board from discussing the matter. Hearing open to the public. Appearing: 1. Sandy Boyd, Fiends of the Library. Ms. Boyd stated that the Chico Library is the most heavily used library. There is no one group that uses the library to the exclusion of all others. The libraries are inadequate. The Board made a commitruent in 1976 to build the library. They have been waiting for the new library. She hoped that when the final decisioan was made, the Board-will remember the library and the needs of the people. They will be having a book sale on Saturday. 2. Henry McCall. Mr. McCall stated that he was an Oroville City Councilman.. He has seen five or six road, graders and trucks that are never moved. If he had a construction company he would not exist for very long. How come the trucks are sitting? He felt that if they were not being used, they should be disposed of. Tremendous amounts of contracts are given to other agencies. If the county is going to have equipment, they should use it. Mr. McCall stated that Oroville 'should be happy to have the library they have. He has noticed and felt that the library was overstaffed. He suggested that the Board meet with the c~epartmert heads to find who is doing work. There should be eight hours of work for eight hours of pay. He did not think that the Board would have to lay off personnel. Recently, there was a comment made that the departments are already running on a bare bones budget. It is a fact that the 19'78-79 assessed value on the .property taxes has increased by 9.5% according to State Board of Equalization. He set out the reasons given fox the increased value. The assessed value on the tax rolls were 6.g/ higher than last year. There was 2.6q more that was added during the year. In 1969-70 there was a 5~ utilities users tax that amounted to 66,700.78 and this year the amount of taxes was $290,'700.33. The people are paying more sales tax. He felt that they had plenty of money to work with. He is will to work with the Board. Chairman Lemke stated that Mr. McCall did not do enough homework. As far as road graders and contracting out, the law says .that no construction ', project will b.e•entered into b the C unty for over $6,500. Last year. Page - 16~. September z4, 1979 September 24, 1979 79- he county saved over $1/2 million by hot filling vacant positions. ,~ Chairman Lemke stated that anytime Mr. McCall wanted to follow him around and take notes for the eight hour day that goes to a fourteen hour day he was free to come along. Mr. McCall stated that if the county can only do jobs that are $6,500 or less then it is obvious that the county has surplus equipment. He felt that everyone had to work harder. 3. Jan Holman. Ms. Holman stated that she had a message from the kids and parents of the Durham Library. She presented about 150 letters and petitions from the kids in the Durham area asking that the Library not be closed. She read several letters from the children. 1553 ADOPT RESOLUTION 79-191 & 79-192 TO BE PRESENTED TO DURHAM ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS On motion of Supervisor Wheeler, seconded by Supervisor Moseley and unanimously carxied, the following resolutions were adopted and the Chairman authorized to sign: Resolution 79-191 in recognition of the Durham Elementary chool students efforts regarding the Durham Library. Resolution 79-192 in recognition of the Durham High School is efforts regarding the Durham Library. 1554 (PUBLIC HEARING: 1979-80 BUDGET AND REVENUE SHARING HEARING The public hearing on the 1979-$0 budget and revenue sharing hearing was held as continued. Appearing: 1. Jerry Hughes, CARD. He will be prepared to make a statement the Board at the hearing scheduled for tomorrow. He had heard that there ht be discussion today. He was not prepared to make any comments today. 2. Will Mattly, district. attorney. Mr. Mattly stated that e budget adjustment lists proposed the discontinuing of the Consumer otection Unit. It shows the reasons why this is proposed. He wanted know what the $24,000 meant. Clif Mickelson, administrative officer, stated that this amount s the savings on the property tax drain for the funding of this budget. Mr. Mattly stated that in the figure they are not taking into consideration the fees or penalties that the violators have paid to the county or that will be paid. Dick Puelicher, auditor's office, stated that the $24,000 was prorata share of the total fines. This would be approximately 65~ the X34,000. They could not speak to the full fiscal year. Mr. Mattley stated that there was another $106,000 that the and will receive from the efforts of the county. If the unit ,is funded the county will still receive this amount. They are not ing to save by cutting the budget. They will lose on what the unit s done in the past. There are 67 cases pending that may or may not prosecuted. The unit has not been a cost to the county. Page 165. September 24, 1979 79- September 24, 1979 Chairman Lemke stated that he had asked the Auditor whether the money was owing. He has asked whether the unit has'cost the county money during its operation. He knew that fines had been levied.' Has the county been able to collect the money during the three years of opration. Jim Johansen, auditor, stated that the actual expenditures for this fiscal year is $106,801. The state picked up $2,400 and the federal, $44,000. This amounted to about $33,000. The total revenue including the federal money was $79,000. The net cost to the county was $26,000. If you go on accrual basis and recognize the outstanding balances, the receiungamount would exceed the expenditures. There is still a question of collection. Mr. Mattly felt that the money should be paid up front. He could give the Board a list of the people paying money at a certain rate. He did not think the people would default. Mr. Johansen stated that the estimate of $25,000 included the fact that the unitewas operating now and would take some time to close down. 3. Marge Ho1ms, Forbestown. Ms. Holms stated that she would like to know the cost for running the Bookmobile. She wondered how the county arrived at the decision to eliminate the Bookmobile. Chairman Lemke advised Ms. Ho1ms that the Board had instructed the Administrative Officer to find the amount of money needed to fund the budget. Ms. Holms stated that she agreed with the decision not to expand the library services. She wondered if elimination of the Bookmobile was sensible. Supervisor Winston stated that he had discussed the matter with Jo Terry. The county has the equipment, are on the road and have. ~ one-half positions. Mrs. Terry could not give him an accurate figure. 3e has received a volume of calls that would indicate that the service ~f the Boolflnobile is appreciated by everyone. He wondered if the 3ookmobile came up once a month instead of twice a month whether she would ~e happy. Ms. Helms felt that everyone could live with that. She felt that another way to cut cost and increase income would be to increase the Z¢ fine for overdue books. She felt that this could be raised. There are services that are pro~rsided by the Library that could be paid For by the user such as the inter-library system. 4. Hap Penn, veterans service officer. Mr. Penn stated that ie had gone over his budget and could sze no way to cut any money out of ~t. He will be able to reduce the budget slightly when they make the nove to Oroville. They made cuts last year of one-third. 3. James Hearst. Mr. Hearst stated that the veberans groups ;ould not make any more adjustments. They cut everything they could last rear. He noticed some discrepencies in the budget. The budget lists ~-1/2 employees. .`~He stated that there were only six employees for :he memorial halls. They recommended last year that the one-half positbn .n Biggs be cut and that the Biggs Memorial Ha11 be closed. They do not seed that hall. The other halls are quite: active and they service the :ommunity as well as the veterans organizations. There are no veterans Page 166. '. Se~teinber 24, 1979 September 24, 1979 79:- meetings in Biggs. Mr. Hearst set out the total meetings in the different memorial halls: 508, Chico; 340, Durham; 320, Gridley; 560, Oroville; and 787, Paradise. Mr. Hearst set out the-total amount received from the memorial halls: $8107.50, Paradise; 2095, Oroville; X3,530, Gridley; 2,795, Durham; $1,086.50, Chico; and $949.50 Biggs. There is no veteran organization that could possible maintain the memorial halls. If the halls are closed all veteran activities would go away. They raised the rents by 25~. There has not been any money spent on maintenance of the halls in the last three years. Supervisor Winston stated that there were new ceilings and carpets in the Oroville Memorial Hall. Mr. Hearst stated that the Chico Memorial Hall needs a new roof. It is to the county~s advantage to keep the buildings up and in use. Other county departments that use the buildings should be charges for the halls. Mr. Nickelson stated that they still show two employees at the Chico Memorial Hall. There is one person on industrial compensation and mzst be carried on the salary ordinance. He did not know where the case stood at this time. 6. Jim Gilpatrick, Paradise Fire Protection District. Mr. Gilpatrick had a question regarding the funding for the Paradise Fire Protection District. He wanted to lmow.if the district would be allocated sales tax subvention money and if so how much? Mr. Nickelson stated that in the budget there is no allowance for use of the sales tax for the district. If Paradise incorporates, there will be sales tax available to the city. Mr. Gilpatrick wondered •thow the county came up with the figures for the allocation of special district augmentation funds. Chairman Lemke stated that the criteria for the augmentation 'unds was changed from last year. Last year the fire and police levels ~f service were to be maintained. This is not part of the requira~nts ~f AB 8. There were other districts also allowed to participate this rear. The criteria originally was established and adopted at a meeting ~n September 14, 1979 with the Auditor and representatives of the special districts. The recommendation was approved by the group and tfter that decision was made the Board directed the Auditor to draw ip an additional alternative method using fire protection as an alternative.. Mr.~ Johansen .set out the alternative proposal for funding of .he fire districts. They would take the total 1979-80 budget of all he fire departments c2al~d subtract the fixed assets, reserves and the estimate ~f their share of the ~4 tax rate. They would then come up with the ifference for the 1979-80 budget. In the•~revious alternatives, they alked about three average years. The distribution on the fire alternative could be to the fire districts based on a percentage of loss. The County 'ire Department ,~ge~'ss the biggest share of that proposal. Mr. Gilpatrick suggested that the fire districts be given onsideration for any sales tax subvention that could possibly be turned ose. Chairman Lemke stated that if all four districts were given he augmentation funds, there would not be enough money to cover all he needs. When Proposition 13 passed,`the district was faced with the •. Page 167. September ~#, 1979 79- September 2~, 1g79 c-- e- c c o 0 o e o c e e o e o-~~ o o e c n e e e ~ o e a e fact that they would receive one-half of what they use to receive in property tax revenues. One of the things that has to be taken back to Paradise is that this might finery well be the last year of any bail out funds. If there are no bail out funds available next year, the district will be faced with the problems next July again. The cuts made by Proposition 13 are what are making the possible cuts in the level of services. 7. Jim Rem~3.lard,`CSUC veterans officer. Mr. Remillard stated that if the Veterans Service Office was eliminated the effect an veterans in the county would be disasterous. Their project has been federally funded. They cooperate with the Veterans Service Officer and are only handling educational benefits. The county has handled all other benefits. The services that have been provided by the regional office in San Francisco for students has not been good. The Veterans Administration cannot do an adequate job over the phone and it is difficult for some of the people to go to the office. He asked that the Board consider the elimination of the Veterans Service Office carefully. -:Many times the veteran receives the .type of illness that is not. voluntary. If the Veterans Service Officer were eliminated, their project would be innundated by veterans to serve the needs they are not set up to provide. Their project is scheduled for termination June, 1g80. Tf that were to happen, there would be no where for the veteran to go. Mr. Hearst stated that the county has proposed $x+,250 for outside ground maintenance. He proposed that the Board reduce that amount to $900 to fund lawnmowers for each of the memorial stalls for the use of the janitor. There are rnly six employees. Mr. Mickelson stated that there is one person on industrial compensation that must be paid. The one-half position is for Biggs Memorial Hall. The position for the person on industrial compensation has just become vacant. The position at Biggs is still there. The people of Biggs rase up and said they did not want the hall closed. Mr. Hearst stated that they are being charged for the hall in Biggs and they have no need for the building. Mr. Mic~eson stated that the proposal was for the county to maintain the exterioa of the buii'dings. -The interior of the building, operation of-the halls and staff would be taken care of b~ the veterans. Mr. Penn stated that he would support a resolution to the state to ask for $l per veteran for subvention funds for the veterans in the state. This would amount, to $3.g million throughbutathe state. Mr. Hearst stated that the veterans organization throughout the state could start a campaign for this allocation. RECESS: 2:55 p.m. RECONVENE: 3:16 p.m. Chairman Lemke set out a proposal for the possible adoption ~f the budget at this time: $2,172,026 short for adoptioi5 bathe budget The Library would be funded and everything else would be cut. the two libraries should be built and the Ilurham Library would continue ~n operation. He could only find $2,002,548. If they cut everything Ln the budget .adjustments list but the library, they would be $lbg,477 short of funding the btai3get, page 168. September 2~+, 1979 79- - - September 24, 1979 _ - - - - - ... - - .~ ... C C W = _ .... .~ W ~ G ... ... .... ... ... .-- ... - _ _ _ _ _ - - - Q - Q - - Cuts proposed as follows: 1. Building and Grounds Maintenance, p. 34 Net Gain as Account 31 -- maintenance of structures- delete Chico Health Department carpeting $ 1,817 b. Account 31 - major maintenance - delete refinishing of floors at Gridley Memorial Ha1Z. 7,500 c. Accout 31 - major maintenance - delete refinishing of floors at Paradise Memorial Hall. 500 2. Federal Revenue Sharing - Plant Acquisition, ~~ a. Postpone Chico Library, less committed architectural,. and consultant fees. ~ 1,511,850 b. Postpone Gridley Library. 263:750c c. Postpone Central Records Building 150;~Q00. d. Eliminate County Center signage. 10~Q00" e. Postpone Weights & @~tire~s Building 65`000 f. Purchase non-subvented department equipment of approximately $240,632. -0~- 3. Federal Revenue Sharing - Contributions to other agencies, p. 40 a. F~e3:efet~axu?ism and convention activities 45,000 4. Federal Revenue Sharing - miscellaneous projects;~p. 41 a. Eliminate residence ~+ demoliton 1,p00 b. Postpone pavement overlay of hospital area. 35,000 c. Postpone pavement overlay at Detoxification road. 30,000 d. Postpone pavement overlay at County .Center Drive 50,000 5. Federal Revenue Sharing - Construction Inspection, p. 42 a. Eliminate budget 2$,972 9. District Attorney - Consumer Protection Unit, p.. 104 a. Eliminate budget unit 25,$55 Page 169, September 24t197g. September 24, 1979 r ~ -- - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ' - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ = a = _ 79" Net Gain 10. Sheriff - Services Division, p. 126 a. Account 36 - Professional & Specialized Services - reduce autopsies from $70,000 to $62,000 13. Environmental Review, p. 156 a. Increase fee schedule as proposed'by department. 16. Public Works, pp. 188-215 a. Delete vacant engineering technican II position in the Engineering & Administration budget. b. Delete two vacant road maintenance man II positions and a vacant bridge maintenance worker. c. Transfer Motor Vehicle In-Lieu funds no longer needed to the General Fund d. Use road reserve funds to fund portions of the road operations e. Delete Motor Vehicle In-Lieu funded road construction projects 21. Data Processing Center y p. 284 a. Account 35 - office expense. reduce the cost of trade publications b. Accaunt 43 - travel - reduce training seminars by $700 $ 8,(]00 50,000 14,000 42;000 85;000 350,000 208,800 200 560 Chairman Lemke stated that is a total number of cuts that would cut $2,g84,7g8 from the Budget. Taking the $2,172,026 short, it would be X812,772 of what needs to be funded including X750,000 revenue sharing to hold as reserve for possible loss of SB 325 funds and the Paradise incorporation. Supervisor Winston stated that he had looked at the budget. He started with a deficit. He had all but $385,000 that he was still short. He anticipated that in addition to the $200,000 that Mr. Castleberry be instructed to reduce the road reserve by $150,000. This would be a $291,000 saving. He recognized that a X200;000 road reserve was necessary. He recognized that all departments should be asked to share equally. This brings up the subject of the Library. This is an extremely difficult area because the services provided are to a broad cross section of the county. He submitted that the Library should be asked to make some budgetary reductions. Perhaps the Librarian could be instructed to sit an amount of X85,000 out of her budget. He was trying to avoid the use of revenue sharing funds as much as he could. The Board cannot fund all of the budgetary reductions list. He felt that some were in page 170. September 24, 1978. 79- 3 September 24, 1979 -___________________a~~~~_~T-~===~~G~_ the nature of services the county can not afford to provide. He suggested that the Board remove from the unallocated revenue sharing X600,000 leaving $160,000 which is going to be split among the projects. The CETA transition is a horrible situation fibr_cthe';$herfffand~thenEzreeDepartment. The Sheriff needs all people transitioned. He was sure the Fire Department could make a great case for getting the level of serva,ce desired. He recommended that $101,780 be for transitioning of 21 CETA positions instead of 30 employees. By affecting those economic and social cuts and increasing the suggested tax cuts throughout the county that the Board could reach the shortfall and perhaps fulfill the contracturl obligation entered into with the City of Chico, namely to build the library. There is no money in the suggested budget cuts to furnish the building. The furnishings would cost the following: Chico Library, $220,000 and Gridley Library, X55,000. He was talking about building the bare building. He has arrived at funding for everything but X385,574. Where the rest of the money is going to come from would be the operatipg budgets if the Board were to fund the Library. M~i?Mi~kelson stated that there were some additions that the Board will have to consider such as the senior citizens nutritional money. He wondered how much was cut out for the Bangor Fire Station. Bab Paulus,;fire warden, stated ,that the amount for the Bangor Fire Station was $$2,000. Mr. Nickelson felt that the Board will have to talk about that. There are additions the Board will have to talk about. Supervisor Winston stated that this would havet~t'o-;come out~of the~unappro~ra,ateCllre~en'ue0sharing~sfu~id~Cu~ Hesques'Fiortdcl:,v3hether these adjustments could be made. ter, Puelicher stated that there was nothing technically wrong with any of the adjustments. He would feel more comfortable with chairman Lemke's suggested changes in the budget in that E:z:- ~.:. these would provide the necessary wherewithall, not only to get the ;ounty through, the fiscal year, but also to provide a ver necessary °eserve against contingencies fai>tluiscfisga3;.ryear:. -ht7wouldvpz?.avide a Might cushion for next year. There was a reserve for contingencies Last year of $1,500,000 and $300,000 was expended. Thisspra~!dedo ?12Q03000•Ito-,,~d'uiadst~hisyea~smlaudget.:~eyTin~ess~ethEyndo_~!somethng«very= :lose to Gha~xznan Leml~'s suggestion they will have very close to zero 'or next year, Chairman Lemke felt that they should not use revenue sharing .'or on-going expenses. The only single area that he did not do that was :he meals-on-wheels for Paradise and CYaco. The only way he would consider loing such a thing is in full recognization of the disaster that could Befall the county next year. The departments will be given about nine ionths to make the cuts that are going to be necessary to open the doors text year. This would be a one time use of revenue sharing. Mr. Johansen stated that the $500;000 for the Paradise incorporation ra primarily from January 1, 1980. It does not include the S$ 325 which is .ncluded in the larger figures. It is accurate to loss of revenue through .ales, liquor and cigarette taxes. There is some question at this point s to what portion of SB 325 funds Paradise would be entitled to. Supervisor Winston stated that the only argument with that Budget was that it would be business as usual. He felt that the Board hould get started by making some cuts now. Page 171.. ~. September 24, 1979 79- September 24, 1979 Clay Castleberry, public works director, stated that he shared some of the concerns. Public Works would like to help.- There are-three or four positions they can live without. There is $750,000 already taken from Motor Vehicle in-lieu fees. There is X550,000 of additional discretionary money at this point. He hoped that the Board would leave the deletion of the Motor Vehicle In-Lieu funded road construction projects in the budget at this time. He would be happy to bring back proposals to reduce the transfer of motor Vehicle In-Lieu and road reserve by $150,000. He did not see any other department sharing. There are several departments where there have not been any proposed reductions. There is at least one more position that they are not going to fill. They are ' sharing X750,000 of money traditionally in the past that has-been taken out of Public Works budget. If they do not have the road reserve they will not advertise the Skyway this fall. He felt it would be difficult tocperate without the reserve. Mr. Puelicher stated that a change was made this year with the road reserve fund. It has been placed in a discretionary fund. The General Fund could be funded from this fund, Chairman Lemke stated that his proposal included CETA transitioning. The cut in the road reserve would go to the General Fund. It would allow Public Works to come in and make a claim against it if necessary. Mr. Johansen stated that the $2,732,000 short includes the road fund. Inaorder to get to $812,000 the Board would have to eliminate $2,984,798 in terms of appropriations. If the Board allowed the Public Works"Department to have a $200,000 road reserve they would still be down to $612,000 to the good. The .$612,000 would be added to the reserve for contingencies as an additional cushion. The reserve for contingencies would Be X2,600,000 with the X1.5 million plus $612,000 plus $527,000. If Paradise were to xuo~tincorporate, it would provide a significant fund balance for next year which would minimize the:¢npacts being discussed. ' Supervisor Wheeler felt that the proposal was in essence saying the Board is going to postpone building the library. S&e had iifficulty with that. If the Board continues to postpone those area, revenue sharing will go for capital outlay and it seems the county is perpetrating themselves trying to fund the library. Supervisor Moseley felt that if the libraries were not built Zow they never would be. Chairman Lemke stated that the other side of the coin was that if the Board builds the libraries, they cannot furnish them. Even if werything else was eliminated, they would still be short of the funding to funding the budget. Mr. Mickelson stated that if the only positions in CETA that were transitioned were the five jailers the county would pick up X255,000. Che county is still going to be $1-1/2 million in the hole. There will ~e augmentation funds for the Library and Fire Department. The Board :ould then add Bangor Fire Station back in the budget. Chairman Lemke felt that the Board would not have the goblem text year. The department heads will have a budget and will have to make :he cuts necessary to fund that budget. Mr. Mickelson stated, there are some areas where this will not rork. Page 172. '. September 24, 1979 September 24, 1979 79- RECESS: 4:15 p.m. y RECONVENE: 5:26 p.m. ~:° Puelicher stated that in addition to the $2,172,026 short fall with the reserveand the additional amount for the potential liability with SB 325 funds and Paradise incorporation of $1,300,000 would be a total of $3,472,026. Mr. Johansen stated that if Paradise should incorporate and the SB 325 funds are changed the County would lose X527,000 in revenue and lose the~$1,300,000. At that point it would wipe out the appropriation for contingencies as it stands now. The Board would not only go into the year with a significantly reduced fund balance but they are facing an increased budget requirements next year because of salary increases and reduction in revenue and revenue sharing. Mr. Puelicher stated that there is no way with the potential liability that the Board can fund construction of the libraries without jeopardizing the functions of the county. Mr. Johansen stated that when the unknowns are removed the Board would be in a better position to determine the building of the libraries. Chairman Lemke stated that the Building Committee considered three different sizes of installation in Chico. They generally agreed the middle size was the best. With the land availability and the construction design it was such that if there were modular construction it could be expanded if the funds become atUailable. His intent was to work just. as hard to fund the libraries as soon as possible depending on the number of different outcomes. The need has been expressed to the Board. Perhaps the possiblity of a grant could be investigated. - Jo Terry, librarian, stated that she was an active member of the California Libraries Association. The grants for libraries have not been funded by Congress ofor several years. There are restrictions placed on libraries throughout the state. She hoped that there could be a grant from EDA. Both of the libraries are branch libraries. RECESS: The Board recessed at 5:56 p.m. to reconvene on Tuesday, September 25, 1979 at 8:00 a.m. Page 173• September 24, 1979