Amador County – Amador County Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster and Supervisor John Plasse testified in Sacramento last week in support of a portion of the governor’s budget bill to restore county “triple flip” funding, as the rider passed through appropriations subcommittees in the Senate and Assembly.

Plasse said Forster testified before the Assembly Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday in support of a portion of Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget that would restore $1.4 million to Amador County and its incorporated cities, in the form of “triple flip” funds that were used beginning in 2004 to replace Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund. Those funds were lost when Amador County Unified School District last year declared itself a “Basic Aid” district.

The Governor’s budget included language to restore that funding to Amador County, now the only county affected by being Basic Aid, because it is the only county with only one school district and no community college. Mono County was also affected, but will not be affected in the coming year. Plasse said Amador County hired Mono County’s lobbyist to continue lobbying for the budget fix for Amador.

Supervisors paid a settlement to the School District this year over a suit seeking further ERAF funds. The county paid $500,000 to settle the suit.

Plasse said he and County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley attended the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday and testified, before that panel also passed the Brown budget item for the ERAF funds. Iley last week said he expected the Legislature to go the same way as the subcommittee decided the issue.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.