County budget pains continue

Glenn County continues to face economic prospects that could include cuts in jobs and public services.

Don Santoro, the county’s finance director, told the board of supervisors on Tuesday that an estimated budget shortfall of about $1.3 million has been pared down to about $700,000.

“But that doesn’t include the adverse impact the state’s budget crisis will have on us,” explained David Shoemaker, the county’s chief administrator.

Shoemaker said officials are essentially looking for ways to spread the budgetary pain evenly between all departments.

“We’re looking at anything and everything very carefully,” Shoemaker said.

He said the potential for lay-offs does exist, but said the idea has not been seriously debated at this point. Other ideas for covering the shortfall include proposals to increase sales tax and one to cut the county workweek to four days, but no decisions have been finalized.

A sales tax bump requires voter approval and Shoemaker said the county would save only about $20,000 a year by working four days instead of five.

Law enforcement, which accounts for about 60 percent of the county budget, faces the deepest cuts, Shoemaker said.

“It’s all about reducing services and maintaining an acceptable level of public safety,” said Sheriff Larry Jones.

Jones said his office has been asked to make up about $319,524 of the $700,000 deficit, which would be about three full time deputy positions. A hiring freeze since Jan. 1 has prevented Jones from hiring five new deputies and he said the department simply can’t cut anymore.

“I told the board on Tuesday that far too few have done far too much for far too long,” Jones said. “We were already at minimum staffing levels before we froze those five positions in January.”

Jones called the new reduction proposals unacceptable.

“I’m looking for the board to make the tough decision to make the Sheriff’s office exempt from these cuts,” Jones said. “Our deputies and detectives are already heavily taxed and we’re losing a lot of sleep over this.”

Shoemaker said the county could be further impacted if and when a state budget is approved.

“The state is not going to help us,” Shoemaker warned.

The next public budget workshop is set for Sept. 16 in the Board of Supervisors conference room.