“Continued restraint” is how staff described the
Amador County 2007 – 2008 final budget approved by the county Supervisors at Tuesday’s Board
meeting. County coffers ended last year about $837,000 higher than
anticipated and the final budget includes some increases from the draft version
including $20,000 for grant writing contracts and almost $33,000 more for
Amador County Recreation Agency. The revised budget also restored the Supervisors’
$18,000 travel reimbursement fund and reinstated their discretionary fund for
recreation projects to $10,000 for each district.
County Administrative Officer Terri Daly noted that
the new budget figure was not enough to release the hiring freeze that went
into effect on July 1st. Daly did recommend that the county look at
opening needed public safety positions as of January 1st, if the
county financial picture was positive. Supervisors and staff warned that the
declining housing market, state budget deficits, increases in health insurance
costs, and substantial legal costs related to Indian casino projects, all point
to an uncertain budget forecast for next year. The total general county
government funds budget for next year totals about $73 million dollars.
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