Tom
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:20
Lower school enrollment means ACUSD will lose $875K
Amador County – Amador County Unified School District (ACUSD) officials said this week they will receive approximately $875,000 less in state funding for the next fiscal year because current school enrollment numbers are lower than projected. The 2010-11 Summary of Enrollment indicates 175 fewer students have enrolled in Amador County schools than the number projected by school officials last fiscal year. According to Barbara Murray, assistant superintendent of business for ACUSD, the State of California provides approximately $5000 per enrollee during the following fiscal year. Because 175 fewer students enrolled than projected, the district will be out approximately $875,000 in 2011-12. The total projected enrollment was 4,130 and actual enrollment is 3,955. The biggest difference is at Argonaut High School, where 48 fewer students enrolled, followed by a loss of 43 at Jackson Elementary, 42 at Amador High, 37 at Jackson Junior High, 26 at Ione Junior High and 20 at Independence High. With the exception of Jackson Elementary, elementary schools saw little change beyond a plus or minus ratio of 10 students.
Murray said the district did an informal survey last year to try and determine reasons for the declining enrollment numbers. “People just are not here anymore,” she said. “It’s a difficult time, and our survey indicated that families are leaving because there is no work and they are losing their homes.” She said that at the time of the survey, approximately 80 families with school-aged children had recently moved out of the county. “We have to start thinking about how we are going to tackle this problem, because this is money that is vitally important to our district,” she said. At a meeting in February, Superintendent Dick Glock said ACUSD has been reduced $14 million in revenue over a three year period. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take,” he said. “It’s become about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:18
Amador Tourism Council says TOT down in Sutter Creek
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council received a report of declining Transient Occupancy Tax receipts in the city, and a corresponding decline in funds given to the Amador Council of Tourism. ACT Executive Director Maureen Funk gave an annual report of activities for 2009-2010 last week, with details of the decline, which occurred between 2008 and 2009. Funk said “regional hotel and motel occupancy continued to decline through 2009, forcing lodging prices downward and lowering TOT receipts.” A study by Dean Runyan Associates said TOT revenues decreased in Sutter Creek by 10 percent from 2008 to 2009. Funk said in fiscal year 2008-09, the Amador Council of Tourism received a total of $12,780 from Sutter Creek. That declined by 45 percent in 2009-2010, with ACT getting a total of just over $7,000, including $5,800 from the city and $1,200 from Sutter Creek Promotions Committee. Funk said 60 percent of the budget was spent on advertising and the council “increased the value of its investment to more than six times, for a total of $137,000.” That included ads in “Sunset,” “Sactown,” and “Sacramento News & Review” magazines; on Capitol Public Radio; in the state visitor’s and travel and recreation guides; and a state fair exhibit. Funk said “media coverage for Amador County has continued to grow,” including a year-long ad on Capitol Public Radio, and ads with Herburger Publications and Sierra Heritage magazine. Funk reported that Amador Council of Tourism’s “website traffic has continued to grow strongly.” She said the new “Sutter Hill Transit Center is open seven days a week,” and as the new tourism council home, it has placed the Council “in a more central location, making it easier for ACT to service visitors and member businesses.” Amador Council of Tourism in the past year participated in travel and trade shows in Los Angeles and London, and had several big partners. Funk said those included the Gold Country Visitors Association, California Travel and Tourism Commission, and Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funk said Amador Council of Tourism also “distributed 15,000 copies of the Amador County Travel and Recreation Guide in one year,” with a plan to have the magazine’s next issue ready in time for travel shows in late January 2011. Until then, the council will produce 10,000 copies of a brochure and map. Funk said 2010 so far marked the opening of the new office on Sutter Hill, a social media marketing workshop, and hosting six German journalists, in partnership with the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:22
Investigation continues on suspected embezzlement at Chamber
Amador County – The Jackson Police Department completed its investigation into alleged embezzlement of $38,500 by the former executive director of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce in early August, and announced Thursday that the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney. JPD issued an affidavit for an arrest warrant for former Chamber Executive Director Jacqueline Lucido, who was laid off by the Chamber executive board on Wednesday. Police Chief Scott Morrison said the investigator in the case “prepared an arrest warrant affidavit, which is a document asking for an arrest warrant.” He said it can be used later, but it has not yet been used. The affidavit went to District Attorney Todd Riebe’s office August 12th. Morrison said the Jackson Police Department has an agreement with Riebe that any arrest warrants issued in the case would not come until after a complete review by the District Attorney’s office of all of the involved documents. Morrison said Riebe has brought in a forensic auditor to help with the financial documents involved. Riebe confirmed that his office was investigating the criminal case with the help of JPD. He said: “There has not been an arrest warrant issued in this case.” He said alleged crimes, by nature are more labor intensive, and the case will involve search warrants and require financial institutions to make copies of and release voluminous documents that must be investigated. He said he cannot comment on a case currently under investigation, but his office has employed a forensic accountant to assist and give guidance in the investigation. Morrison on Thursday said in March, JPD was informed that Lucido might have been unlawfully utilizing a Visa credit card that was obtained in 2003 for official Chamber use.” The card was obtained by then-Chamber President Paul Molinelli Junior. The “criminal investigation opened in April when initial inquiries into purchases made with the Visa credit card revealed they were for Lucido’s personal use and that payments towards the Visa bill were paid from the Chamber’s checking account.” The JPD investigation found that Lucido unlawfully used the Chamber credit card and Chamber money to purchase $22,500 in personal goods, and pay $11,500 in interest and late payment penalties. She was also alleged to have used a Chamber grocery credit card to buy $3,500 in personal groceries from Raley’s. The investigation found no evidence “to support a claim that Lucido had ever reimbursed the Chamber for purchases she made for personal use.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:26
Paul Molinelli Jr. - Chamber of Commerce Investigation 9-17-10
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News Interview Videos
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:36
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-17-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:36
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-17-10
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Video
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:26
Paul Molinelli Jr. - Chamber of Commerce Investigation 9-17-10
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Local
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:22
Investigation continues on suspected embezzlement at Chambe
Amador County – The Jackson Police Department completed its investigation into alleged embezzlement of $38,500 by the former executive director of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce in early August, and announced Thursday that the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney. JPD issued an affidavit for an arrest warrant for former Chamber Executive Director Jacqueline Lucido, who was laid off by the Chamber executive board on Wednesday. Police Chief Scott Morrison said the investigator in the case “prepared an arrest warrant affidavit, which is a document asking for an arrest warrant.” He said it can be used later, but it has not yet been used. The affidavit went to District Attorney Todd Riebe’s office August 12th. Morrison said the Jackson Police Department has an agreement with Riebe that any arrest warrants issued in the case would not come until after a complete review by the District Attorney’s office of all of the involved documents. Morrison said Riebe has brought in a forensic auditor to help with the financial documents involved. Riebe confirmed that his office was investigating the criminal case with the help of JPD. He said: “There has not been an arrest warrant issued in this case.” He said alleged crimes, by nature are more labor intensive, and the case will involve search warrants and require financial institutions to make copies of and release voluminous documents that must be investigated. He said he cannot comment on a case currently under investigation, but his office has employed a forensic accountant to assist and give guidance in the investigation. Morrison on Thursday said in March, JPD was informed that Lucido might have been unlawfully utilizing a Visa credit card that was obtained in 2003 for official Chamber use.” The card was obtained by then-Chamber President Paul Molinelli Junior. The “criminal investigation opened in April when initial inquiries into purchases made with the Visa credit card revealed they were for Lucido’s personal use and that payments towards the Visa bill were paid from the Chamber’s checking account.” The JPD investigation found that Lucido unlawfully used the Chamber credit card and Chamber money to purchase $22,500 in personal goods, and pay $11,500 in interest and late payment penalties. She was also alleged to have used a Chamber grocery credit card to buy $3,500 in personal groceries from Raley’s. The investigation found no evidence “to support a claim that Lucido had ever reimbursed the Chamber for purchases she made for personal use.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:20
Lower school enrollment means ACUSD will lose $875K
Amador County – Amador County Unified School District (ACUSD) officials said this week they will receive approximately $875,000 less in state funding for the next fiscal year because current school enrollment numbers are lower than projected. The 2010-11 Summary of Enrollment indicates 175 fewer students have enrolled in Amador County schools than the number projected by school officials last fiscal year. According to Barbara Murray, assistant superintendent of business for ACUSD, the State of California provides approximately $5000 per enrollee during the following fiscal year. Because 175 fewer students enrolled than projected, the district will be out approximately $875,000 in 2011-12. The total projected enrollment was 4,130 and actual enrollment is 3,955. The biggest difference is at Argonaut High School, where 48 fewer students enrolled, followed by a loss of 43 at Jackson Elementary, 42 at Amador High, 37 at Jackson Junior High, 26 at Ione Junior High and 20 at Independence High. With the exception of Jackson Elementary, elementary schools saw little change beyond a plus or minus ratio of 10 students.
Murray said the district did an informal survey last year to try and determine reasons for the declining enrollment numbers. “People just are not here anymore,” she said. “It’s a difficult time, and our survey indicated that families are leaving because there is no work and they are losing their homes.” She said that at the time of the survey, approximately 80 families with school-aged children had recently moved out of the county. “We have to start thinking about how we are going to tackle this problem, because this is money that is vitally important to our district,” she said. At a meeting in February, Superintendent Dick Glock said ACUSD has been reduced $14 million in revenue over a three year period. “There is no good outcome to actions we must take,” he said. “It’s become about financial survival, not about what’s good for kids and students.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Education
Friday, 17 September 2010 06:18
Amador Tourism Council says TOT down in Sutter Creek
Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council received a report of declining Transient Occupancy Tax receipts in the city, and a corresponding decline in funds given to the Amador Council of Tourism. ACT Executive Director Maureen Funk gave an annual report of activities for 2009-2010 last week, with details of the decline, which occurred between 2008 and 2009. Funk said “regional hotel and motel occupancy continued to decline through 2009, forcing lodging prices downward and lowering TOT receipts.” A study by Dean Runyan Associates said TOT revenues decreased in Sutter Creek by 10 percent from 2008 to 2009. Funk said in fiscal year 2008-09, the Amador Council of Tourism received a total of $12,780 from Sutter Creek. That declined by 45 percent in 2009-2010, with ACT getting a total of just over $7,000, including $5,800 from the city and $1,200 from Sutter Creek Promotions Committee. Funk said 60 percent of the budget was spent on advertising and the council “increased the value of its investment to more than six times, for a total of $137,000.” That included ads in “Sunset,” “Sactown,” and “Sacramento News & Review” magazines; on Capitol Public Radio; in the state visitor’s and travel and recreation guides; and a state fair exhibit. Funk said “media coverage for Amador County has continued to grow,” including a year-long ad on Capitol Public Radio, and ads with Herburger Publications and Sierra Heritage magazine. Funk reported that Amador Council of Tourism’s “website traffic has continued to grow strongly.” She said the new “Sutter Hill Transit Center is open seven days a week,” and as the new tourism council home, it has placed the Council “in a more central location, making it easier for ACT to service visitors and member businesses.” Amador Council of Tourism in the past year participated in travel and trade shows in Los Angeles and London, and had several big partners. Funk said those included the Gold Country Visitors Association, California Travel and Tourism Commission, and Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funk said Amador Council of Tourism also “distributed 15,000 copies of the Amador County Travel and Recreation Guide in one year,” with a plan to have the magazine’s next issue ready in time for travel shows in late January 2011. Until then, the council will produce 10,000 copies of a brochure and map. Funk said 2010 so far marked the opening of the new office on Sutter Hill, a social media marketing workshop, and hosting six German journalists, in partnership with the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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