Proposed county budget adds nine deputies, keeps library and park hours

During the May 10 meeting of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, the county supervisors voted to receive the county’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011-12 while setting hearing dates for the budget the supervisors will consider in June.

The proposed 2011-12 budget totals $4.84 billion, which is a decrease of 2.3 percent from the current fiscal year’s $4.96 billion budget.

“It’s a very good budget given the very bad times that we’re dealing with,” said Supervisor Greg Cox.

Some of the decreased budget amounts are due to reduced property tax revenue. Other reasons for a decline in revenues include cuts in state programs, the conclusion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act disbursements, and decreased activity which involves cost recovery fees. While those decreased revenues will result in cuts, spending declines are also due to technology-based increased efficiency and the completion of capital projects.

A county government (and its associated staff) serves two functions. The first is as an agent of the state for both incorporated cities and unincorporated communities. Notable roles in this capacity include the Registrar of Voters, the court and correctional systems, the tax collector, the county recorder, public health, environmental health, and the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (which includes agriculture in cities as well as unincorporated areas and also assures the accuracy of scales and gas pumps throughout the county). The county’s other function is as the substitute for a city council (and city staff) for unincorporated communities. This includes planning and land use, roads, flood control, parks, libraries, and law enforcement. The county also operates eight airports, two of which are in incorporated cities, and several cities contract with the county for library or law enforcement services.

The county’s role as agent of the state makes some of its funding subject to state mandates. Additional revenues are dedicated for purposes for which they are collected, and the proposed budget includes approximately $964 million of general-purpose revenue, which is approximately $10 million above the 2010-11 amount but below the 2008-09 level. “We are anticipating a third year of slightly negative assessed values,” said county chief financial officer Don Steuer.

The budget’s 15,689 full-time equivalent positions would create a net decrease of 153 positions from 2010-11. “These proposed allocations preserve essential public safety and non-public safety services,” Steuer said.

That includes a loss of 63 positions in the public defender’s office due to the end of a juvenile delinquency contract. Much of the county’s discretionary funding is spent on public safety, and the $564 million general purpose revenue budget for the Public Safety Group is an increase from the 2010-11 amount of $530 million. The Public Safety Group portion of the budget adds nine new patrol positions in the county’s unincorporated areas.

The transfer of the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority and its 13 staff positions from the Land Use and Environment Group to the Public Safety Group also resulted in changes from last year’s budget within those two groups.

In March 2010 the county supervisors voted to cut the discretionary Neighborhood Reinvestment Program budget from $10 million to $5 million and direct county chief administrative officer Walt Ekard to redirect the one-time resources available from the reduction towards priorities consistent with the supervisors’ strategic initiatives. The 2010-11 budget utilized that $5 million to implement recommendations to improve fire protection and emergency medical services in the county, and the proposed 2011-12 use for that redirected funding is to avoid cuts in park and library hours. “I think it’s important that in difficult times the county keep all its parks and libraries open as often as possible,” Ekard said.

County Library staff years will be decreased by 9.75 full-time equivalents. “The library will again have to realign its operational cost,” said Mikel Haas, the deputy chief administrative officer for the county’s Community Services Group.

The reduction in library staff will be complemented by reductions in new books and other new materials, but basic services will remain available. “The overarching goal remains: no branch closures, no reduction in public hours,” Haas said. “For the County Library it is all about access.”

The completions of the new Fallbrook and Ramona library branches, the opening of the new County Operations Center, and other finished projects are responsible for a notable decline in the county’s capital improvements budget. The proposed 2011-12 capital improvement funding includes $10 million for Multiple Species Conservation Program land acquisition and $800,000 for Don Dussault Park.

“We’re moving forward in spite of declining revenues,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

“We know we have some economic challenges,” said Supervisor Ron Roberts. “In spite of that, we’ve got some major opportunities.”

The public hearings on the budget will begin on June 6 and close on June 15. Board of Supervisors deliberation on the budget will begin June 28.

“I think the County of San Diego’s staff from the top to the bottom has done an incredible job,” said Supervisor Bill Horn.

“I think the whole team approach there is remarkable,” said Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.

“This county has done phenomenal things, and it’s because of the team approach,” Cox said. “We’re doing more with less. Unfortunately we’re going to have to continue that.”

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