10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY june 6-12, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com A sea of purple met the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, May 29, just as supervisors were set to discuss the $2 billion 2024-2025 recommended budget ahead of a vote on June 20. Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 521 packed the chambers wearing T-shirts in the union’s colors of purple and gold, while holding signs declaring a staffing crisis. Each time a union member spoke, the rest rustled their signs in support. Their message was focused on preserving and bolstering the county’s 5,900-member workforce, asking the supervisors to protect existing positions as well as fill dozens of vacant positions, which SEIU members said were leading to overworked employees. “My name is Carina Romero and I come with my son in hand, covered in banana, to show you who we are fighting for,” the psychiatric social worker told the supervisors while holding her toddler, who was holding a big piece of banana as his mom spoke at the podium. Romero said she is doing the work of two positions, working with youth who have committed sexual offenses. “Yes, the work is getting done, but at what cost?” she said through tears. “You guys don’t see the late nights, the hours that we work, the time we don’t spend with our families because it has to get done.” Also looming large over the supervisors that day was the potential loss of $13.5 million in state funding for assistance and support programs administered by the county’s Department of Social Services (DSS), due to California’s projected budget deficit. It meant the possible elimination of several programs, vacant positions and at least two employees. Noting that the cuts “come with pain,” for employees as well as those who receive services, DSS Assistant Director Roderick Franks asked the supervisors to save two positions in the CalWORKS program, and provide funding for general assistance and homelessness programs, for a total augmentation request of just over $1 million. Besides cuts in state funding, the dilemma facing the Board of Supervisors in the coming budget year and the next few years is that the county’s revenues are not keeping up with expenses, according to County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa, who presented the recommended budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Rising labor and pension costs and expansions of health and social service programs, along with new programs for homelessness housing assistance and disaster recovery efforts in Pajaro, were some of the reasons given for increasing expenditures. The budget presented included $2 billion in spending, which is $64 million over the current fiscal year, a 3.4-percent increase. It’s a balanced budget, De La Rosa said, in large part because of eliminating—for one year—a $10.4 million contribution to a pension trust fund the county set up to pay for future unfunded pension liabilities. There were $24 million in unassigned funds the supervisors could use to save positions or add new positions, like three new positions Sheriff Tina Nieto requested. Nieto said the roles are needed to gain increased compliance with the Hernandez court settlement that the Sheriff’s Department is mandated to follow in order to improve conditions at the Monterey County Jail. It was not clear at the end of the day whether they had majority support for those positions, after Supervisor Mary Adams left shortly before the end of the 10-hour meeting. What a majority of supervisors did support was to keep two DSS positions, along with two additional social service positions in South County, as well as a parks ranger, plus smaller amounts for separate programs that help “green” businesses, veterans and homelessness. With the sheriff’s request, there could be $20.3 million left over in unassigned funds that supervisors said they wanted funneled into a reserve account for unexpected expenses. The supervisors also debated on May 29, and again on Tuesday, June 4, about whether to put either a sales tax measure or transient-occupancy tax measure, or both, on the November ballot. Polling paid for by the County showed that 61 percent of those asked supported a sales tax increase, and 64 percent supported an increase in TOT. Only supervisors Wendy Root Askew and Glenn Church supported putting both measures on the ballot, noting that voters were more likely to support a TOT measure. Supervisors Luis Alejo, Chris Lopez and Mary Adams were only interested in pursuing a sales tax increase. The current county sales tax is 7.75 percent, below the 8.25 to 9.5 percent that cities within the county collect. Alejo, Lopez and Adams argued that they would collect millions more with a 1-percent sales tax increase than the county would in pursuing an increase in TOT. Alejo contended that they had a better chance of winning by pursuing only one measure. The three supervisors also agreed with hospitality representatives who said a TOT increase would hurt their industry, still not fully back from Covid-19 shutdowns. The supervisors agreed to bring the tax debate back for more discussion on Thursday, June 20. Adding a tax measure to the ballot requires a four-fifths vote. If they do, then it will be up to voters in November. During the same meeting, they will make their final decisions and approve the budget for 2024-25. Dip Ahead County faces tough budget decisions and a possible tax increase measure. By Pam Marino news Coastal Chat California Coastal Commission staff and representatives will be on hand in Big Sur to hear from residents. Share your concerns and suggestions with Commissioners Ann Notthoff and Justin Cummings, as well as commission staffers Dan Carl and Breylen Ammen. 5-6:30pm Thursday, June 6. Big Sur Lodge conference room, 47225 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. 647-7755, courtneyc@countyofmonterey.gov. Housing Matters The City of Salinas’ Community Development Department is hosting two meetings about housing. City staff present information on housing initiatives and the rental stabilization ordinance. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions. 5:30-6:30pm Thursday, June 6 virtual meeting. 6-8pm Thursday, June 13 at Salinas PAL Center, 100 Howard St., Salinas. Register for Zoom link at bit. ly/RSOregister. Free. 758-7334, housingwebmail@ci.salinas.ca.us. Lots of Love At SPCA Monterey County’s Summer of Love adoption event, adopters can pick their price on all available pets. Here is your chance to bring a dog, cat, turtle or even Stevie the potbelly pig into your home. 11am-5pm Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 9. SPCA Monterey County, 1002 Highway 68, Salinas. 373-2631, spcamc.org. Art Heroes The Arts Council for Monterey County is seeking nominations for Champions of the Arts. The awards acknowledge people and organizations who are committed to supporting the arts in Monterey County. Deadline to nominate is midnight, Sunday, June 9. arts4mc.org/champions. On the Ballot The November election is right around the corner, and candidates interested in running for office are invited to attend a seminar presented by Monterey County Elections. Learn about requirements for office, important filing dates and more. 6pm Monday, June 10. Government Center, Cayenne Room, 1441 Schilling Place (North Building), Salinas. Free. RSVP at candidateservices@co.monterey.ca.us or 796-1499. montereycountyelections.us. Call for Artists The City of Seaside is encouraging artists to submit proposals for a new mural that welcomes visitors to the Oldemeyer Center. Deadline to submit is 5pm Monday, June 24. Send proposals to Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside, 93955 or email to pwinfo@ci.seaside. ca.us. ci.seaside.ca.us/bids.aspx. An SEIU Local 521 member speaks to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on May 29. Union members asked to protect existing positions and fill vacancies. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “Yes, the work is getting done, but at what cost?” Daniel Dreifuss
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