Closing Tuolumne County’s Deficit

Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County is looking at ways to cut a projected $1.9 million General Fund deficit for next fiscal year.

The budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1st is scheduled to be approved on June 19, so various cost cutting moves are being dissected by the Board of Supervisors at today’s meeting.

Ideas on the table include cutting $500,000 from the Sheriff’s Office by eliminating one new and four vacant positions. In addition, the county may eliminate $252,000 that was going to be used to upgrade Sheriff’s Office vehicles. It would plug a $752,000 shortfall in state and federal funding for the Tuolumne Narcotics Team.

The District Attorney’s Office may have to downgrade two Victim Witness Advocates from full-time status to 3/4-time. In addition, they would eliminate a Senior Legal Clerk. ($146,000 savings)

The Community Resources Agency would eliminate a vacant staff services position, and reduce several expense line items. ($108,000)

Facilities Management could lose a Housekeeper position. ($45,000)

Animal Control could eliminate a Senior Office Assistant position, and cut the wildlife services (trapper) contract in half. In addition, the department would postpone a computer network upgrade project. ($90,000)

A Deputy County Counsel position could be eliminated ($104,000) and a Senior Building Inspector would be dropped ($62,000)

Department heads from the various agencies have been giving their opinions at today’s Supervisors meeting about the negative impacts of the reductions. The county indicated it could call for a special meeting before June 12th to hash out the final details. Again, the final budget is scheduled to be approved on June 19th.

Today’s Supervisors meeting is being streamed in the multimedia section of myMotherLode.com.