Santa Cruz County has a $12.9 million deficit that it must close in the next 18 months. The County’s Chief Executive Susan Mauriello warns that welfare offices and their associated nonprofits can expect to face even deeper cuts than they did last year. In 2009, the county slashed its budget by 6 percent
Santa Cruz County has a $12.9 million deficit that it must close in the next 18 months. The County’s Chief Executive Susan Mauriello warns that welfare offices and their associated nonprofits can expect to face even deeper cuts than they did last year. In 2009, the county slashed its budget by 6 percent. Even more worrying is the fact that the state has yet to indicate how much funding it plans on cutting to the county to cover its own $20 billion shortfall. State funding is a major factor in public transportation, public safety, and health and human services.
Also at stake are negotiations with labor unions over the extension of the current furloughs, amounting to 104 hours. Salaries account for 52 percent of the county’s expenses, and there is no assurance that unions will agree to a wage freeze, extended furloughs, or reduced benefits.
Given these problems, Mauriello warned that “the state and the local government will have another extraordinarily challenging year.” Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
