Glenn County budget still unsettled
Unknown finances continue to hamper Glenn County’s ability to pass a budget for the next fiscal year, so the county will maintain operations with its 2008-2009 budget for now.
The Board of Supervisors continued a budget workshop until July 21 after discussing a report from Finance Director Don Santoro on Tuesday outlining personnel costs from each county department. He forecasts a baseline budget deficit of $613,000 for 2009-2010.
Department heads will be asked to report how they will handle cuts to cope with the $613,000 deficit. They’ll also analyze what cuts to make if the state takes away $900,000 in Williamson Act revenues from the county.
The Williamson Act protects agricultural and open space properties from development by taxing them at a lower rate. Counties then receive compensation from the state for the difference in property tax assessments.
However, state lawmakers are threatening to suspend Williamson Act funding in an effort to bring in more revenue to California and cut compensation to the counties.
Some department heads suggested it would be wise to plan for both scenarios – even though the county has no idea what the state is going to do.
Chief Probation Officer Brandon Thompson said the probation department can cope with the $613,000 deficit because it is receiving grant funds that were not anticipated. He could lose from 1.5 to two positions if the Williamson Act money is lost.
County Clerk Sheryl Thur said she also could lose two people if the Williamson Act money is lost, but her Sacramento sources say a 20 percent reduction in revenues is likely rather than eliminating the act altogether.
“It takes a 2/3 vote to get rid of the Williamson Act,” she said. “It’s a bargaining tool they’ve used the last 10 years, and I don’t want to react to that.”
On Thursday, media spokesman Dave Kranz of the California Farm Bureau Federation in Sacramento said he understands a state budget committee recently approved a one-year suspension of Williamson Act funding to counties. Kranz said he does not know if the action is finalized.
