This story is taken from Placer at sacbee.com.
By Niesha Lofing -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Sunday, June 25, 2006
Placer County supervisors recently approved a $638 million proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a spending plan that includes funding for a county library, the planned South Placer jail and 28 more staff positions.
The 2006-07 fiscal year proposed budget -- which will take effect Saturday -- is roughly 6 percent, or about $37 million, higher than last year's $601 million final budget.
Supervisors unanimously passed the proposed budget at their June 13 meeting. Supervisor Ted Gaines was absent.
The increase is attributed to a rise in revenue flowing into the county, said Therese Leonard, principal management analyst for Placer County. The reasons include:
• An increase in property tax revenue.
• A two-year county property tax shift of $2.2 million to the state is being discontinued in fiscal year 2006-07.
• More money from the state and federal government for the county's road fund.
• More money from motor vehicle license fee revenues.
Leonard cautioned supervisors, however, saying that the county's funding could change as a result of the what happens with the state budget, which has yet to be approved.
"We are including what we know at this point in time," she said. "What (the proposed budget) doesn't provide for is the state's final budget."
The county spending plan includes funding for planning the South Placer jail, which will eventually be part of the South Placer Justice Center complex, a $250 million facility to be built over the next 20 years.
The proposed budget also includes money for 28 more county staff positions.
"We are working really hard to preserve our employee base and working hard to bring in talent to keep the county running," Leonard said.
Not all department requests for funding were met, however. County department leaders met earlier this year with County Executive Tom Miller and supervisors to discuss their departments' needs for the 2006-07 fiscal year and submitted requested budgets.
Unfunded department re- quests stand at nearly $10 million, and 59 staff positions are likely to remain empty, according to county documents.
County officials also are looking for ways to finance $21 million for a public safety radio system -- a much-needed project that would replace the 60-year-old radio network used by law enforcement agencies throughout the county -- and $3 million for a helicopter for the Placer County Sheriff's Department, Leonard said.
Supervisor Bruce Kranz said that in the future, if departments that received extra money from the county to offset state budget shortfalls end up receiving state funding after all, the county's money should be redistributed to other departments that may be in need.
"We don't know what the state is going to give us in the future, but I would like to see an effort to redirect those funds," he said.
Budget workshops, which are designed to provide a chance for department officials to tell supervisors their financial needs and highlight successes and future goals, will be held Aug. 15-17 and are open to the public.
A public hearing and final budget adoption is anticipated for September.
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