Supervisors appropriate budget balance

When the San Diego County Board of Supervisors adopted its 2004-05 budget in June the supervisors included cuts in state funding as a factor, but the county was able to exceed its 2004-05 budget by $138.3 million as of the second-quarter status report and the supervisors voted 5-0 March 1 to appropriate $75.6 million of that.

“We’re in the black and not in the red,” said Board of Supervisors chair Pam Slater-Price. “Our management system is obviously working very well.”

The general fund balance projection is $74.4 million, comprised of $15.7 million in additional revenue, $34.9 million in net savings from departmental operations, and $23.8 million from unspent contingency and management reserves. The combined balance for all other funds is $63.9 million.

“Our staff has just done a great job in managing the resources of this county,” said Supervisor Greg Cox.

The recommendations include an additional $210,936 to the Sheriff’s Department for an equipped firefighting helicopter; the negotiated price was $600,000 above the original estimate and the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee added the additional sum to the initial $1.5 million to provide for the $1,710,936 cost.

A $250,000 appropriation to the Department of Agriculture, Weights, and Measures from the 2003-04 fund balance of the county’s Land Use and Environmental Group will allow the restoration of portions of the High Risk Pest Exclusion Program which was reduced due to cuts from the state. That money will also provide County Veterinarian services.

Appropriations of $750,000 from the 2003-04 Land Use and Environmental Group balance will provide erosion control for fire-damaged areas, which typically require three to five years of growth to be fully stabilized.

Another $600,000 from the 2003-04 LUEG balance will be used to implement the Community Trails Master Plan adopted in January 2005. Fiscal year 2004-05 trail maintenance and management costs are estimated to be $600,000, including one-time start-up costs of $426,000 for vehicles and equipment. Operating costs for a full fiscal year are estimated at $730,000, which includes staffing costs for a five-person trail crew, related services and supplies, and depreciation of the vehicles. Additional maintenance work by volunteers will save the county an estimated $240,000 per year. Another $20,646 from the Federal Forest Reserve program was appropriated for trail easement acquisitions.

A state grant of $20,000 will offset ongoing operations and maintenance costs for Fallbrook Community Airpark and Borrego Valley Airport. A $150,000 Federal Aviation Grant and $7,895 of 2003-04 county Airport Enterprise Fund balance will fund the correction of drainage problems for Fallbrook Community Airpark; the drainage problems exist near the newly installed helipad. Another $183,770 of 2003-04 Airport Enterprise Fund balance will be used for runway and ramp repairs at the county’s eight airports.

Available Road Fund balance allowed for appropriations of $225,000 for roadside mowing, and $200,000 of additional Road Fund balance will be used for roadway best management practices assessment and maintenance.

Available Park Land Development Ordinance balance for Fallbrook resulted in the appropriation of $1,500 for general planning staff costs. That money will fund Department of Parks and Recreation staff time for park planning activities not related to specific capital projects.

The Rainbow Municipal Water District recall election and other special elections will be funded by $652,107 of revenues from election and petition verification costs provided by the water district and two cities, candidate statements, and postage reimbursements.