Lawton Proposes Major Cuts To Balance Budget
San Andreas, CA — Calaveras CAO Bob Lawton has proposed major cuts in his effort to balance the 2009-10 fiscal budget.
While Lawton is thankful the state has taken Proposition 1A off the table (that would have taken $1.5 million in property tax revenue from the county) he still finds himself facing a $4.9 million deficit. The $1.5 million is earmarked for the contingency fund and cannot be used to retain personnel and/or programs.
To that end he has proposed laying off 43 fulltime county employees, closing the county library branches, the county archives and suspending the adult literacy program.
Unlike the state which according to Lawton, “Pays for its groceries with a VISA card, we on the county level have to balance our budget. We have to live within our means.”
Already eight Cal WORKs employees have received layoff notices. Lawton notes that he and his staff are continuing to negotiate with bargaining units in an effort to gain concessions and retain jobs.
