The Armona Fire Department won't lose a body, and the Kings County animal services shelter will get two part-time kennel technicians after all. But hiring for the three deputy sheriff's positions assigned to the tribal lands south of Lemoore would be frozen, although they won't be eliminated as previously proposed.

That's the conclusion the Kings County Board of Supervisors reached Tuesday, as they met to reopen the budget hearing to settle the contested budget lines, particularly concerning the sheriff's and the fire departments. With a governor-signed state budget now in place, the county is ready to adopt its own.

County Fire Chief Jim Kilner breathed a sigh of relief, as the board canceled the elimination of one fire fighter's position at the Armona fire department.

"I wasn't prepared to lose a body in Armona," Kilner said. "We are down to bare bones in our department right now."

Previously, the proposed county budget of $239 million called for downsizing the Armona station by staffing it with one person during the day rather than two that the department currently has. The cut was also to delete one more position requested for the station.

The situation has apparently changed for the better.

The department has received extra revenues from fighting wildfires outside the county, and the property tax revenues came in more strongly than anticipated, providing enough money to maintain the staffing status quo at the station, Kilner explained.

The Sheriff's Department was also facing cuts in several line items, including three deputy sheriff's positions assigned to the Santa Rosa Rancheria and two animal shelter technician positions being requested as part of the animal services overhaul.

Passionate with the animal shelter issue, Assistant Sheriff Randy Montejano was there to plead with the board to return the kennel tech positions.

"Animal services is important to me. We need qualified people to run that shelter, and we can't afford to lose her as the director," Montejano said, backing up the recently hired animal services director Teri Rockhold. "Let's not make a mistake. Give her the tools she needs."

Montejano was talking about the improvements the department began when the shelter operation came under fire about two years ago. The department has since implemented various improvements, such as hiring a civilian animal service director and updating the record-keeping system, amid a lawsuit. The animal technician positions are indispensable in completing what it began, Montejano said.

The supervisors were largely sympathetic.

Supervisor Taylor was quick to say that she was going to advocate for returning the two animal tech positions to the department.

Supervisor Joe Neves suggested adding two part-time technicians positions to the shelter.

Meanwhile, the budget would take $156,000 from the sheriff's rainy day funds with an understanding that the contingency fund will be replenished when there's a surplus in the future.

Three deputy positions, which were on the chopping block because of anticipated cut in Indian gaming money, were not eliminated but placed on a freeze. Officials said the state actually passed legislation providing $30 million Indian gaming funding statewide, but added that they are still analyzing how much Kings County would receive.

Whether the county could restore those positions would depend on what it can negotiate with the Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee, said County Administrative Officer Larry Spikes. That process will take anywhere from 60-90 days, he said.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Oct. 15, 2008)