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Posted by: thepinetree on 06/22/2009 10:40 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 06/22/2009 10:40 AM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Taxpayers Group Looks At Budget
Calaveras Supervisors are conducting budget hearings this week. The budget proposal to the Supervisors calls for reduced services in every County department at a time when the demand for some agencies’ services is on the increase. It anticipates nearly a 10% reduction in County staff at a time when Calaveras County’s unemployment rate has reached 13.5%. Depending on what the state does, cuts may increase to 17%......
The Calaveras County Taxpayers Association (CCTA), according to its President, Al Segalla, noted that some communities have found ways to improve upon the delivery of public services while reducing costs. The group made a few suggestions:
It would be good for more taxpayers to get familiar with the budget process, decide on their priorities and advise their Supervisors where cuts are least objectionable. This would tend to balance the government spending lobby. However, more fundamental changes may be desirable, than just cutting employees or salaries.
Volunteers are building, operating and maintaining parks and libraries using non-governmental organizations. Boosters and service clubs provide funds and volunteers for the county fair and many other civic endeavors. This should be expanded.
Contracting out public services can result in increased customer satisfaction with significant reduction in expense. Some communities use competitive bidding for road maintenance with government also bidding and sometimes winning the contracts.
We need to look at the Calaveras Council of Governments to see if it is cost effective to continue this organization.
County employees are taking some serious hits. A less painful cut in benefit costs might be a system where individuals select benefits from a menu up to a certain value and either, forego any not of value, or pay for benefits over the limit. For example, an employee whose spouse has a better family health plan could be dropped from the health insurance roll.
Using a four day week may have advantages for both the county and employee. Some workplaces could be closed one day a week, a saving to the county. The employee would commute one less day and enjoy three-day weekends. The workday could be 8 or 9 hours, depending upon budget and need. Some employers have found output the same or greater on four 9 hour shifts as on five 8 hour shifts thus more was done with less.
The taxpayers group recommends that a privatization study be completed by next year and in the interim, more taxpayers must get involved in the process now.
CCTA plans to monitor the budget hearings and provide input on behalf of taxpayers. Bob Mulvany, Vice President, has been appointed CCTA Budget Committee Chair and can be reached at 728-9056.
Interested parties can get more information about CCTA at CalaverasTaxpayers.org or by calling (209)785-1491.
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