By Kathryn Reed

By the time the meeting wrapped up after 8pm, nearly $4 million had been trimmed from the 2011-12 El Dorado County budget.

This leaves a $7 million projected deficit before the fiscal year begins July 1. That sum will be dealt with sometime next year, possibly not until June. Getting agreements from the 13 bargaining units and waiting to see what the state does are factors that will play into what the supervisors will need to do.

The Board of Supervisors heard the county’s outcry to save senior services. Not a dime was taken from that budget on Nov. 15. The museum, GIS and UC Extension also all remain intact.

“The programs were spared (Monday), but they are still discretionary programs. That is not to say they are forever out of the budget discussion,” explained Mike Applegarth, analyst with the Chief Administrator’s Office.

The budget document shows how much was taken from which departments and what had been proposed.

Law and justice (sheriff’s, probation, district attorney, public department) is losing more than $1.6 million.

Although it appears Veterans Affairs is taking a $100,000 hit, that’s not entirely true. Half that amount will be offset by the state in a bill passed to increase veterans services statewide.

Applegarth said there would be no reduction in services. With an employee retiring, the county is hiring a person in the community with experience to do the vet work on an as-needed basis.