Budget woes facing Kings County are forcing officials to consider eliminating about eight full-time equivalent jobs, a majority of them in the county's public safety agencies. But decision-makers are still gathering their thoughts behind such a cost-cutting measure after the leaders of both fire and sheriff's departments made their case Monday during the budget session, contending that these cuts go too deep for safety's sake.

Though largely sympathetic to Jim Kilner and Chris Jordan, the Kings County Board of Supervisors didn't make an immediate decision on these budget items administrators are recommending to trim. It tabled the matter until a later date.

"They are sympathetic to the issues associated with proposed reductions, and they want the staff to continue to look at that and figure out what can be done to mitigate the impacts of those changes," said County Administrative Officer Larry Spikes. "Of course, everybody recognizes this is all subject to change when they have the state budget."

On Monday, the supervisors began a lengthy, painstaking process of reviewing final changes to its spending plan for the coming fiscal year as the California budget impasse hit Day 56 after deadline.

Kings County is now looking at a $239 million budget -- some $24 million more than what was proposed before the end of the last fiscal year. Officials say fund balances resulting from incomplete work in human services and capital projects had to be rolled over.

This year's budget shows a growth of about $17 million compared with last year's $222 million, placing the general fund expenditures at $170 million, a 5.7 percent increase from last year's $161.3 million.

Much of the $9.2 million growth stems from expansion in mental health funding and road funding, according to the budget document. There was a $880,000 general fund revenue growth, but that's not enough to offset inflation, officials say.

As a result, the budget still calls for downsizing the Armona Fire Station by staffing it with one person during the day rather than two. The cut would delete three full-time jobs in the fire apparatus engineer position.

If adopted as proposed, the budget would also cut three deputy sheriff's jobs assigned to patrolling the Santa Rosa Rancheria and scratch out the two animal shelter technician positions being requested as part of the animal services overhaul.

The proposed cuts are a "proactive" way to deal with the current budget problems, but also future county needs amid an ongoing state budget crisis which has no end in sight, Spikes said.

"We're looking down the road thinking this is going to be a multi-year problem we have to deal with," Spikes said. "We have to make some reductions upfront, but we're also going to have to be mindful of the fact that we're going to be adding to our jail and having to staff that."

Officials say there will be no layoffs. Meanwhile, the county remains on a "soft" hiring freeze by not filling positions that go vacant.

But cuts could go deeper for fire and sheriff. The county's two priority departments together represent more than 20 percent of the $170 million county general fund. Public safety -- nearly 59 percent of the county general fund -- is a fast-growing segment of the budget.

Kilner, the fire chief, said the rising costs of operation -- such as a 20 percent increase in the cost of running dispatch -- is squeezing the fire department budget.

"This year, there's no money to fall back on. We're absolutely having to look for other means. That's why we need some help from the county," he said.

But downsizing Armona isn't the answer, Kilner says.

"Is it the best way to do it? No. Armona is a busy station," Kilner said, adding that any person working in one station is a "hinge pin to the operation" because resources are shared throughout the county in times of need.

Supervisor Alene Taylor said she is against deleting the three fire personnel, although others reached no conclusion.

Sheriff Chris Jordan urged county leaders to restore the $250,000 allocation from the tribal mitigation fees, a traditional fair share the department has received to fund three deputy sheriff positions.

With the Indian gaming money being stopped by the governor's veto, county administrators are proposing to allocate the whole $900,000 from the tribe to the fire department.

"We provide essential services to them, and I believe that they should continue to fund some of our operation," Jordan said. "We recognize that the reservation is an entity in itself and the largest employer in the county and a center of major detainments in the county. These things are a drain of resources. We believe the portion that has been set aside for our department should be maintained."

Currently, these three positions are not filled, although sheriff's officials say they are close to being filled. Jordan said the expectation for law enforcement grows at ever-expanding tribal land and its casino operations.

Supervisor Tony Oliveira agreed.

"All the citizens who are out there, the citizens, are expecting your responses ...," Oliveira said. "The safety aspect of it continues to be a challenge. Unfortunately, there's not a tax or fee mechanism to pay for it except through the relationship we have with the tribe. So I have some real compassion for public safety out there."

For the animal shelter issue, director Teri Rockhold said the two additional technicians would help make the shelter a seven-day-a-week operation while freeing up an animal control officer, reducing the public use of controversial drop boxes and launching public education programs. "We're one of the very few counties in California that are not open on weekends," she said.

But that would cost the county almost $90,000 more to operate the shelter. Spikes said cities might be doing their own animal control, and if they do, adding more personnel and operation hours may be an overkill.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Aug. 26, 2008)