El Dorado County keeps making cuts; deficit remains

By Kathryn Reed

El Dorado County continues to struggle to create a balanced budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Board of Supervisors at the weekly meetings seem to have an item related to the budget on most agendas. The shortfall is at about $10.2 million, of which $7 million was predicted. Cuts last fall brought the number down to $7 million.

“The numbers are still swirling” is how one county employee put it.

Like most entities in California, without a state budget it’s hard to definitively go forward. Plus, property tax dollars keep declining which affects revenue projections.

Predictions are no department will be spared. Further personnel and program cuts are likely to bridge the fiscal divide.

Changes have been ongoing. A recent one saw the shift of Mike Applegarth as full-time analyst in the Chief Administrative Office to a full-time air pollution control officer and part-time CAO analyst.

“We also have an analyst assigned as acting IT director and another that continues to manage county purchasing,” Applegarth said.

The economic developer’s position has been eliminated

One area to receive a boost in funding this month was the Film Commission – by $10,000.