The kids in the hall
Mono County began a series of town hall-style meetings on the upcoming 2015-2016 budget and how the new strategic plan ideas will be incorporated. The first of six meetings took place at the Crowley Lake Community Center, attended by about a dozen County employees, one reporter and one citizen. The intent of the meeting is to inform the public about the budget and to listen to citizen input and ideas.
The County’s strategic plan, a first for the County, will be a guide to what direction the County wants to take and what projects will further that direction.
Mono County Finance Director Leslie Chapman said the projects on the first year’s strategic plan will not require much if any additional financing, as the County will be going after “low hanging fruit.” For example, one first year project is to increase communication between departments and between the board and departments.
Mono County Supervisor Fred Stump opened the meeting by updating the Crowley Lake community on future endeavors and ideas. He said a $500,000 skate park project for the growing community has been introduced; now the proponents are looking for funding with a projected onstruction start date of 2017.
Supervisor Stump also gave updates on the continuing Rock Creek Road Construction Project and Convict Lake Road Project. Both projects will widen the respective roads on the uphill side to accommodate bicyclists.
The County’s total budget revenue is expected to increase, with a projected rise in property tax, TOT and sales tax, which could generate about $1.6 million in additional revenue. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that Highway User’s Tax revenue from the state is expected to decrease by $650,000. Chapman said this will be a major hit if it goes through. It means road maintenance will have to subsidized or postponed. She added that maintaining a road is cheaper than having to rebuild or construct a new one due to a lack of maintenance.
Meanwhile health insurance costs are expected to rise 21.6 percent, up about $1 million. These cuts and increased costs quickly turn black into gray (or red).
The County has been using its reserves since the economic downturn in 2007-08 to backfill its budget. A once nearly $6 million reserve currently sits at $1.6 million.
The County continues to make cuts to balance the budget. The number of full-time employees working for the County has dropped from 345 in 2007 to a current 265. There is a County-wide hiring freeze and every position that needs to be filled has to come before the Board of Supervisors for approval. The County is not adding new jobs.
County employees have also agreed to 48 hour furloughs to help the budget. Some departments are even seeking and finding grant money to keep employees and support projects. Chapman applauded the departments for its work, but noted that it’s work that takes away from the task at hand.
The County has many unmet needs, such as $20 million to comply with the state Air Resources Board Clean Air Compliant Vehicles and a new jail with a $10 to $25 million price tag.
The next step will be for Chapman and her staff to sit down with each department and its budget and go line-by-line to make any additional cuts. The County will continue its town hall meetings and until the budget hearings begin on August 18.
The next town hall meeting will be at the Chalfant Valley Community Center on Monday, July 13.
