LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors will hold the hearing on the county's final recommended budget in a special meeting this week.

The daylong meeting on the 2012-13 budget will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

Interim County Administrative Officer Matt Perry will present the board with a budget that has appropriations totaling $179,857,413, down from the 2011-12 recommended budget of $182,711,200.

Perry's report to the board also noted that the proposed 2012-13 general fund appropriations total $54,074,285, up from $52,244,146 in 2011-12.

He said the overall budget decrease “was primarily due to establishing reserves in several special revenue funds rather than appropriating money for an unspecified purpose.”

The general fund's increase, according to Perry, was related to public safety realignment money allocated to the Probation Department and the Jail Facility budgets, and special projects such as the Lucerne Hotel renovations that formerly were budgeted in the Redevelopment Agency budget but have been transferred to the general fund in the wake of redevelopment's dismantling.

General fund reserves remain at $7 million, which at a time when other governments are reducing their reserves to maintain services due to the recession “is an indication of fiscal restraint on the part of your Board and other officials and staff,” Perry wrote in his report.

He suggested not increasing ongoing expenditures in the general fund due to a 0.5 percent decrease in the property tax roll.

There have been some increases in the county's jobs, which total 911, due to new positions added by departments such as the Probation Department, which is receiving special realignment funding, or non-general fund departments such as health, mental health and social services, Perry reported.

Overall, Perry said the recommended budget “allows departments to maintain existing service levels and will enable the County to continue investing in significant projects and programs to improve the quality of life for Lake County residents and businesses.”

Nontimed items on the agenda include the proposed resolution adopting the budget for the county and Special Districts, and a resolution establishing position allocations.

Also on Wednesday the board will discuss appointing an interim deputy Human Resources director.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .