Despite Rep. John Doolittle’s loss of clout and his status as a minority party member of Congress, Placer County fared well in the whopping federal budget for 2008 that President Bush signed into law last week.

Although he’s no longer a member of the House Appropriations Committee, county officials said Doolittle, R-Rocklin, cooperated with Democratic U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to ensure that Placer will receive federal money for important projects.

Bruce Kranz, chairman of the board of supervisors, has this to say:

“The board of supervisors maintains close ties with California’s representatives in Congress and we thank them profusely for their hard work on our behalf.”

According to county spokesman Mike Fitch, Placer will be receiving nearly $1.6 million for its countywide technology program, which will improve communications among the sheriff’s department and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

District 1 Supervisor Rocky Rockholm, a retired Roseville policeman, said the program is being funded on a “pay-as-you-go basis that does not encumber taxpayers with debt.”

District 2 Supervisor Robert Weygandt said the planned sub-regional wastewater treatment plant near Lincoln is due to get $936,000 in 2008, bringing the total received from the federal government to $5 million.

“Funding of about $25 million over the next three to five years will be critical as operators of old plants such as Auburn’s and the county’s face critical decisions in meeting clean water requirements,” said Weygandt.

Kranz, who will step down as chairman next week but remain a board member, reported that the federal budget includes $492,000 for a biomass utilization project in eastern Placer County. Biomass utilization is a process that converts dead tree parts and other forest debris into forms of clean energy.

“Our pilot project will demonstrate how our biomass program can help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires in the county while at the same time using the debris from our forests to generate clean energy,” Kranz declared.

The county also will be getting more than $380,000 for the second phase of the new Placer County Children’s Health Center and Emergency Shelter, which will provide a safe haven for abused and neglected youngsters whose parents cannot care for them. The first phase of the new facility at DeWitt Center will be completed in a few months.