LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved staff-proposed adjustments to the 2010-11 budget as part of the midyear budget review process.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox presented the item to the board.
With the adjustments the budget now stands at just over $189 million, about $700,000 down from the amount accepted last September, which Cox told Lake County News was the result of the Social Services Department not receiving a renewal of stimulus funds for a subsidized employment program.
The general fund has remained unchanged at $52.9 million.
Cox briefly reviewed his report with the board, noting that the county isn't experiencing significant midyear declines in sales tax and transient occupancy tax as it has in previous years, but may be faced with a second year of a declining property tax roll.
Among the proposed adjustments of note was that Special Districts Administrator was asking to appropriate reserve funds from the Lake County Sanitation District, Middletown and Spring Valley areas for specific projects.
The county still must contend with unknowns that will result from the state budget. Cox said there are many issues that will arise during the state budget process that could impact the county.
Cox said the county has managed to keep its finances in good shape and is boosting its contingency funds at a time when few other counties are able to do so.
He credited county department heads for “outstanding” cooperation and for meeting challenges when some grants didn't come in. Cox also thanked Deputy Administrative Officer Matt Perry for his hard work on the budget.
Supervisor Denise Rushing asked about additional funds being used for improvements at the Lake County Jail.
Cox said $100,000 is coming from rural sheriff's subvention funds and another $100,000 from the general fund, which are being put toward those improvements.
Rushing also asked about the Special Districts funds that Dellinger wanted to appropriate. He said those funds are set aside to be matches for large capital projects. Cox later clarified for Lake County News that some of the funds will be used for projects that won't receive grant funding in smaller districts.
Board Chair Jim Comstock said of the county's budget, “It's some pretty positive news in some pretty negative times.”
Supervisor Anthony Farrington moved to approve the proposed budget changes, which the board approved 5-0.
Cox said he and his staff are already getting to work on the 2011-12 budget. He said they distributed the upcoming year's budget manuals and supporting materials to department heads on Monday afternoon.
In other board business, Sheriff Frank Rivero asked to rescheduled a discussion about a new Middletown substation in two weeks.
The Lake County Community Action Agency's appearance before the board also was taken off the agenda at that group's request.
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