Amador County’s budget situation is in better shape than many of its neighbors, but special considerations must be made ahead of time to ensure it remains stable in the future, according to County Administrative Officer Terri Daly. In a presentation to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, Daly sought the Board’s approval on a proposal for a new Early Retirement Incentive Program designed to “reward longevity and loyalty to the County.” “We prefer options that are voluntary. We still have choices. Having no choices means mandatory layoffs,” said Daly.

Amador County faces serious concerns when it comes to its budget, but has yet to face catastrophic cuts or dig into  emergency savings like Sacramento County. Board members agreed with Daly that Amador County must put programs in place that will anticipate the impact of statewide cuts to vital local services. “We have to be proactive, we’re looking at cuts to social services and mental health,” said Supervisor Forster. According to Daly, the County’s proposed budget in the coming year is in excess of 3 million dollars out of balance. The County must consider future expenses like its investment in a new location for the County Jail and a landfill closure.

One bright note is that Amador County still has 27 million dollars in emergency reserves which has not been tapped.County employees who volunteer for early retirement would receive 1000 dollars for every year they have been with the County. The money would go tax free into a savings account. As long as that money is being used for health related reasons, it can be withdrawn tax-free. The program includes a contingency fund built into the budget each year to generate an estimated 1.3 to 1.4 million dollars. “We’re balancing the budget using the worst case scenario,” said Daly. The Board approved the concept of the proposal. Daly and staff will continue to revise the proposal’s language and make another presentation at a future Board meeting. The proposed early retirement incentive program is a volunteer furlough program.