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Board of Supervisors approves budget for year
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The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1.64 billion budget for the coming year on Monday, while acknowledging that the county's true fiscal picture won't be clear until after the state passes its budget later this summer.
The budget approved Monday for the fiscal year beginning July 1 was almost identical to the one proposed two weeks ago by County Executive Officer Marty Robinson. It includes almost no new programs or expanded services, but neither does it call for any layoffs or deep cuts.
Total revenues are up just 1.6 percent from the current year, well below the rate of inflation.
"It's a zero-sum game," Robinson said. "We have very little money, and if we decide were going to do something different, we have to take it from somewhere else."
On Monday, the supervisors discussed Robinson's proposed budget and heard presentations from top administrators on how the budget will affect their departments.
Time after time, the supervisors were told that Robinson's budget leaves them able to provide about the same level of service they are currently offering, but if the rumored budget cuts from Sacramento become a reality, the story would be much different, they said.
California is facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, and many county programs are funded by the state.
Barry Zimmerman, the head of the county Human Services Agency, said his department alone could be looking at about 40 layoffs if the state cuts welfare funding to the extent that Sacramento leaders are currently discussing.
The board also heard on Monday from county officials who have asked for funding for their departments beyond what Robinson recommended.
About $4 million worth of such "supplemental requests" were made, and the board denied them all.
Posted by MRSMYTH on June 16, 2008 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Very interesting
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