The Sierra Star Logo

Budget hearings underway | Sierra Star

×
HOME SUBSCRIBE
  • E-edition
    • All News
    • Local News
    • Obituaries
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Weather
    • Submit a News Tip
    • All Living
    • Entertainment
  • Sports
    • All Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • Classifieds
    • Cars
    • Jobs
    • Homes
    • Apartments
    • Placead
    • Legals
  • Webcams
  • Archives
  • Customer Service

News

Budget hearings underway

By Mark Evan Smith - Madera Tribune

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 25, 2015 12:33 PM

As part of initial county budget discussions Tuesday, Sheriff Jay Varney proposed restructuring his upper-level command staff to eliminate the positions of a lieutenant and undersheriff, held by Michael Salvador, Varney’s opponent in election last year.

Varney told the board of supervisors his goal was to change the current hierarchy from five officers directly underneath his command, comprised of undersheriff and four lieutenants, to a staff of two commanders and two lieutenants in order to save taxpayer money.

“I realize it has impacts on employees, but I believe it allows me to offer the best level of service to the county,” Varney said. “It also allows me to bring on another deputy sheriff at mid-year thanks to those savings.”

According to data from the California State Controller's Office, Salvador earned a $106,722 salary in 2013 while a lieutenant was paid $99,030.

In the proposed 2015-2016 budget, the sheriff's department will receive a nearly $2 million increase in funding, from $9.2 million $11.2 million, though much of the money is focused on staff relocating to a new office by mid July.

Varney said his restructuring decisions – including funds for a dispatch supervisor – were based on increasing public safety through additional staff.

“The focus of this budget was to get as much sworn manpower back to the road, or towards the road, as possible,” Varney said.

Varney did not provide any names as to who will fill the restructured positions at the supervisors meeting, though he said several will likely be internal hires.

If approved as written in the county budge, the undersheriff and one lieutenant position will be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2016, and replaced with two sheriff's commander jobs.

Also included in the sheriff’s proposed fiscal allocations are negotiations with the Chawanakee Unified School District for a school resource officer. In a separate item Tuesday, the board also authorized staff to negotiate a building lease agreement with private companies for a county morgue to fulfill the sheriff's coroner duties.

A contract with Smith Manor Grace Chapel Manor in Madera was voided in April after one of its co-owners, Sharlane Smith, was arrested on 25 counts of fraud for years she allegedly overcharged the county for funeral services.

Several officials spoke during the board’s first day of budget discussions.

The board, as with the start of every fiscal year, will listen as department heads countywide make their case for requested funds, then decide whether to make changes before voting on approval of the 435-page document.

A copy of the proposed 2015-2016 budget is available at http://bit.ly/1SHQko6.

Among many of the fiscal document’s highlights are a recommended increase of more than $16.6 million in general fund expenditures, which may help restore a dramatic drop in services following a $12.3 million deficit in 2010.

Chief Administrative Officer Eric Fleming said through five years of diligent work and sacrifice by all levels of county staff – including suffering through furlough days and other cutbacks – the budget is balanced and provides for spending increases to areas like law enforcement and public health.

“We’re finally beginning to regain fiscal health as an organization,” Fleming said. “We need to continue to exercise fiscal restraint as we have learned to do so well over the last five years. If we do that, in time we’ll grow our revenues to hopefully provide additional funding for your board’s priorities.”

Around 28% of the county’s proposed spending, if approved, will go to welfare services, with almost 30% for public protection, such as law enforcement, 17.5% for health and sanitation, 9.5% for general government costs, 9.4% for roads and transit, and less than six percent.

  Comments  

Videos

North end of Bass Lake iced over after heavy storms, frigid conditions

Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove welcomes visitors Monday after fire closure

View More Video

Read Next

Valley storms, cold weather show no signs of stopping. Take a look at what’s on the way.
Video media Created with Sketch.

Local

Valley storms, cold weather show no signs of stopping. Take a look at what’s on the way.

By William Ramirez

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 19, 2019 04:33 PM

The National Weather Service reports another storm will hit the central San Joaquin Valley on Wednesday. Light precipitation is expected.

KEEP READING

MORE NEWS

Oakhurst RV park gets Planning Commission approval. Here’s what happens next.

Local

Oakhurst RV park gets Planning Commission approval. Here’s what happens next.

February 19, 2019 10:44 AM
Community News, Feb. 21 edition | Yosemite Democrats meeting and Zen 101

Local

Community News, Feb. 21 edition | Yosemite Democrats meeting and Zen 101

February 19, 2019 09:37 AM
Cold winter storm expected to bring more snow to Yosemite Valley

Community

Cold winter storm expected to bring more snow to Yosemite Valley

February 19, 2019 06:00 AM
Ahwahnee woman killed in two-car crash on Highway 49

Local

Ahwahnee woman killed in two-car crash on Highway 49

February 18, 2019 03:23 PM
This week: More rain. More snow. More freezing temperatures. Here’s what you need to know

News

This week: More rain. More snow. More freezing temperatures. Here’s what you need to know

February 17, 2019 02:05 PM
Bass Lake spillage levels steadily dropping, PG&E reports

Local

Bass Lake spillage levels steadily dropping, PG&E reports

February 15, 2019 11:59 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Sierra Star App

Subscriptions
  • Digital & Home Subscriptions
  • Digital Replica Edition
Learn More
  • Archives
  • Customer Service
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Advertising
  • Advertise
  • Place an Ad
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story