Amador County’s 2008-2009 Proposed Budget is now available for public review. This fiscal year may be the first year in Amador’s history that the County will see a budget deficit. Previously, Amador County was one of only three counties in the State of California with a budget that was ‘in the black.’ Officials are currently estimating a budget shortfall in the ballpark of three million dollars. One controversial item that is under consideration in the budget is the purchase of a site for a new County jail. The County sought to obtain grant money earlier this year for that purpose, but was not awarded the funding. Amador County’s current 76-bed jail was built in 1984, and constantly suffers from overcrowding. There has been much discussion at this year’s board meetings about building a new 165 bed jail, which will add around 3 million dollars to the 2008-2009 budget. In addition, the County is considering the purchase of Scotty’s Plaza, located adjacent to the Administration building on Highway 88, which contributes about $400,000 dollars to the potential deficit. These two items, coupled with rising administration, service, and fuel costs amount to a tight financial position for the County. This year, the County will also see less support from the State and Federal Governments in the way of grant money for Social Services, Public Health, and Education. Said Supervisor Richard Forster in an interview with TSPN, “It really depends on what filters down from the State. It looks like the counties are going to be impacted hard this year by the State Budget. By the time the State Budget crisis is over, our proposed budget may be just paper”.
Tuesday, 05 August 2008 04:44
County's Proposed Budget In the Red
Amador County’s 2008-2009 Proposed Budget is now available for public review. This fiscal year may be the first year in Amador’s history that the County will see a budget deficit. Previously, Amador County was one of only three counties in the State of California with a budget that was ‘in the black.’ Officials are currently estimating a budget shortfall in the ballpark of three million dollars. One controversial item that is under consideration in the budget is the purchase of a site for a new County jail. The County sought to obtain grant money earlier this year for that purpose, but was not awarded the funding. Amador County’s current 76-bed jail was built in 1984, and constantly suffers from overcrowding. There has been much discussion at this year’s board meetings about building a new 165 bed jail, which will add around 3 million dollars to the 2008-2009 budget. In addition, the County is considering the purchase of Scotty’s Plaza, located adjacent to the Administration building on Highway 88, which contributes about $400,000 dollars to the potential deficit. These two items, coupled with rising administration, service, and fuel costs amount to a tight financial position for the County. This year, the County will also see less support from the State and Federal Governments in the way of grant money for Social Services, Public Health, and Education. Said Supervisor Richard Forster in an interview with TSPN, “It really depends on what filters down from the State. It looks like the counties are going to be impacted hard this year by the State Budget. By the time the State Budget crisis is over, our proposed budget may be just paper”.
