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How is revenue divvied up in Stanislaus County?Sep 12, 2011 (The Modesto Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- In terms of government services, where is Stanislaus County spending its money? Although many think of visible units such as the Sheriff's Department, district attorney's office or maybe administration, those don't hold a candle to welfare costs. The Community Services Agency, whose main mission is public assistance, spends far more ($253 million) than the combined total ($140 million) of all safety units, including the above plus probation, the public defender's office, fire warden and grand jury. At $88 million, health services for poor people cost more than any single safety unit, including the Sheriff's Department, which spends $76 million per year. Together, health, welfare and recovery services account for nearly one of every two dollars spent in county government. But most of those costs are covered by state and federal money. Local taxes pay for the higher-profile safety units as well as parks and recreation, planning,tax collection and others. Most of their money comes from the general fund, over which local leaders have more control even though it accounts for less than one-third of the total $891 million county budget. Most of the county's discretionary revenue comes from property taxes, on a downward slide for a fourth consecutive year along with land values. Repeating the past Smiles may be scarce Tuesday as county supervisors confront the yearly task of adopting a final budget. In three years, leaders have downsized by 1,000 positions, hacked programs, reduced salaries, and apologized time and again. They say the future holds more of the same, except for mass layoffs. "I wish it looked better," said Supervisor Bill O'Brien. "We're going to do the best we can with the resources we have." Tuesday's spending document is not radically different from the preliminary budget adopted in June, said Rick Robinson, the county's chief executive officer, who will retire at year's end. Exceptions include the sheriff pulling out of a schools partnership addressing truancy and an $800,000 emergency repair to Modesto's aging downtown jail. Unsettled questions over public assistance, indigent health care and in-home care have created $7 million holes in those programs, although leaders have set aside $7.3 million in rainy day funds. Officials are troubled that total costs exceed revenue by $54 million, plugged with one-time grants and savings carried over from past years' scrimping. Cuts bring savings Some good news: All of the county's 27 departments except for one (public defender) managed to cut spending enough for total carry-over savings of more than $10 million in the past two years; the Sheriff's Department led the way, saving $3.4 million. That is "a very positive story," said Stan Risen, assistant chief executive officer. "It doesn't mean they had fat in their budgets; it means they've become proactive in trying to slow this train down." The train will continue bearing down for years to come, officials predict. A major obstacle comes in spring, when contracts with all 12 labor unions expire. Restoring pay, added to escalating retirement costs, would put the county in another $26 million hole, administrators say. Workers were asked to be patient two years ago when approving concessions that trimmed 5 percent of all salaries. But projected deficits make it likely that employees will be asked to give even more. Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at [email protected] or (209) 578-2390. ___ (c)2011 The Modesto Bee (Modesto, Calif.) Visit The Modesto Bee (Modesto, Calif.) at www.modbee.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |