The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed a $1.2 billion budget for 2011-12 Thursday, the fourth day of budget hearings. The unanimous vote came at about the same time it was learned that Gov. Jerry Brown had vetoed the state budget passed Wednesday by Democrats in the Legislature.
Supervisors were faced with cutting $42.8 million from next year's budget. They restored $8.7 million in spending to the budget after reviewing items on an add-back list that included money for road improvements, the sheriff's helicopter unit and a juvenile girls' jail alternative facility, among several other programs and staff positions. The add-backs were funded by money from a number of special accounts.
The budget reductions now total $34.1 million. The general fund portion of the budget increased from $379 million to $384.7 million.
County Administrator Veronica Ferguson asked public safety departments to reduce their general fund budgets by 16 percent and other departments to cut 20-25 percent from their budgets.
The budget initially called for the elimination of 223 positions and 63 layoffs. Now, 180 positions will be eliminated, said Jim Leddy, community and governmental affairs manager. The number of actual layoffs has not yet been determined.
"This is a fair, responsible and compassionate budget," Board Chairman Efren Carrillo said.
-Bay City News
