No matter how you Carunchio the numbers, it comes up peanuts

Mono County still haggling over budget.

At Tuesday’s Inyo County Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Independence, County Administrative Officer (CAO) Kevin Carunchio provided supervisors with an update on the progress being made toward addressing the FY 2014-2015 structural budget deficit.

The FY 2014-2015 structural deficit was projected to be $5.04 million on August 29, 2013 and $6.19 million by FY 2015-2016. After approving the FY 2013-2014 budget and then approving a large equity and pay raise for county employees in October, 2013, the County began looking for creative budget solutions, including a Service Redesign, to avoid layoffs.

Considerable criticism was directed at the CAO and the Board of Supervisors over the pay increases, however they remain convinced that it was only fair to county employees that they receive an appropriate salary for the level of work they perform and receive a cost of living increase after many years of not having one. The $1.8 million increase in the budget deficit heightened the need to find ways to close the structural deficit gap.

For years the County’s structural deficit has been addressed by rolling over savings realized from the previous fiscal year’s budget. Generally these savings come from not filling vacant positions, delaying equipment purchases, deleting some positions or combining others, and a host of other actions. The result has been up to $3 million dollars in savings, but after many years of cost-cutting the County is finding it increasingly difficult to continue to rely on this tactic.

According to Carunchio, Service Redesign brought the County $665,559 in savings and the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program offered to 28 employees (9 accepting) should save another $365,468. After Operating Transfers and Salary Savings were added, the CAO recommended further reductions of $498,000. But again, by late Wednesday afternoon, that amount was closer to $100,000 with a couple more weeks left to close the gap.

First District Supervisor Arcularius said at Tuesday meeting that, “Changes in the structure of how we do government hopefully may (eventually) result in not having a structural deficit.” Carunchio responded that, “It does come with some changes in service delivery levels.”

5th District Supervisor Matt Kingsley added, “We’ve worked hard to save money and to avoid layoffs.” Second District Supervisor Jeff Griffiths noted that, “I feel strategic reductions (contracting services, changes to motor pool policies, leasing vehicle, etc.) and service redesign makes sense.” Fourth District Supervisor Mark Tillemans said in a comment made earlier by the CAO, “It’s never too late to take off the Red Shirt and get involved. We have a responsibility to the taxpayer.” Third District Supervisor and Board Chair Rich Pucci stressed that it must be a team approach and it is never good to pit one department against another. “We don’t have the luxury of just ‘getting out of the business’ as someone in a private business can do. I thinkdepartment heads can do more and we can come up with the additional savings needed.’

Carunchio remains optimistic…well, cautiously optimistic that the Board will have a budget it can approve at its September 16 meeting.