If the lawsuit is successful, those miles we managed to hold onto could be lost. Not only that, but the next phase of the Travel Management Rule Plan (Subpart A) could be even more devastating to access and our local economy. 

Read on… and please go to the website and donate.

Stanislaus National Forest & Bridgeport Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe

From the  Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center website:

“On August 12, 2010, preservationist groups Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, The Wilderness Society and PEER [Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - www.PEER.org says: "As a service organization assisting federal & state public employees, PEER allows public servants to work as "anonymous activists" so that agencies must confront the message, rather than the messenger."] filed suit challenging the Stanislaus NF travel plan adopted Nov. 12, 2009. The suit alleges claims under NEPA, NFMA and related law. Of particular note are claims that the Forest failed to properly define alternatives under NEPA, failed to properly analyze effects, failed to “minimize” OHV impacts, failed to properly designate a “minimum road system” and failed to comply with applicable forest plan direction. Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) indicating only those routes that are on the map are legal for travel.”

 The concept of  ‘minimizing OHV impacts can be particularly problematic due to the question of whose definition of ‘minimize’ would be adopted. The suit also targets the decision of the Forest Service regarding Subpart A, the analysis of the minimum, necessary road system needed in each forest. The question of how to define ‘need’ has never been answered. The CA4WDC and partners have filed for Defendant/Intervenor status to ensure that our members needs, and the needs of all forest visitors who enjoy motorized access, are being represented in this lawsuit. We have formed a coalition, and need everyone’s support on this critical issue.

A “copycat” lawsuit has been filed by the Center for Biological Diversity against the Bridgeport Ranger District of the Humboldt –Toiyabe National Forest  CA4WDC has now entered with our partners into this lawsuit, and are proud to be standing p for the rights of motorized recreation enthusiasts in California and Nevada. We have to quash these lawsuits as strongly as we can, and defend our right to motorized access.

What can you do? For a start, please donate to the Stanislaus Legal Defense Fund, go to www.cal4wheel.comfor a link to PayPal. Then email or call your county supervisor and inform him or her. Ask your elected representatives (local, state, and federal) to stand up for public access of all kinds because it’s your forest too.

Jerry Brown's official portrait as California's Governor last time around.

Our “new” Governor Jerry Brown started the year off with a big bang by releasing his much-heralded bad news California state budget this morning. 

Cities and counties are awaiting in depth analyses of what the entire budget will  mean to local government, but for sure it’s not good. Count on one thing: this thing’s a long way from over.

After some months of partisan and special  interest wrangling and a battle royale to extend “some existing taxes” another five years, Brown will issue a revision in May. And if all goes as it hasn’t gone for years, we could have an approved budget in the end of June.  

Yeah, right. Wouldn’t that be a miracle? At a minimum, the next six months will be a very, very bumpy road for Californians.

Here’s the press release from the Governor’s office with the highlights (or lowlights, if you prefer).  

Governor Brown’s Budget Slashes State Spending by $12.5 Billion 

Sacramento – Governor Jerry Brown will release a balanced state budget today that slashes spending by $12.5 billion, including an eight to 10 percent cut in take-home pay for most state employees, and proposes a “vast and historic” restructuring of government operations. 

“These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice,” Brown said. “For 10 years, we’ve had budget gimmicks and tricks that pushed us deep into debt. We must now return California to fiscal responsibility and get our state on the road to economic recovery and job growth.” 

Brown’s budget also calls for temporary continuation of taxes while the state pays off debt, moves forward with his realignment plan and consolidates or eliminates functions. 

“Since it will take some time to fully implement these changes, I propose to ask the voters for a five-year extension of several current taxes so that we can restructure in an orderly manner,” the Governor explained. 

He said the proposed spending plan, which puts $1 billion into a “rainy day” reserve fund, closes California’s budget deficit “now and into the future.” 

The Governor said his realignment plan, which he called “vast and historic,” will return decisions and authority to cities, counties and schools and “allow government at all levels to focus on core functions and become more efficient and less expensive” by reducing duplication of services and administrative costs. 

The one area of state spending spared from cuts is kindergarten through 12th grade education. 

“Schools have borne the brunt of spending reductions in recent years, so this budget maintains funding at the same level as the current year,” the Governor said. 

Brown’s budget proposes total spending of $127.4 billion for the 2011-12 fiscal year. Of this amount, proposed General Fund spending is $84.6 billion. 

The spending plan eliminates an 18-month budget gap estimated at $25.4 billion, comprised of a current year shortfall of $8.2 billion and a budget year shortfall of $17.2 billion. A combination of $26.4 billion in actions is needed in order to have a $1 billion reserve. In addition, the deficit will grow to $26.6 billion if the proposed sale of state office buildings, blocked by court order, does not proceed, requiring $27.6 billion in budget actions in order to have a reserve. 

Brown’s budget proposes $12.5 billion in spending reductions, $12 billion in revenue extensions and modifications, $1.9 billion in other solutions to close the gap and provide for a $1 billion reserve. 

Major spending reductions include $1.7 billion to Medi-Cal, $1.5 billion to California’s welfare-to-work program (CalWORKs), $750 million to the Department of Developmental Services, $500 million to the University of California, $500 million to California State University, and $308 million for a 10 percent reduction in take-home pay for state employees not currently covered under collective bargaining agreements. Brown also plans to trim state government operations by $200 million through a variety of actions, including reorganizations, consolidations and other efficiencies. 

The Governor’s spending plan proposes additional reductions throughout state government, including corrections, the judiciary and resources. 

The budget also proposes to change the role that state and local governments play in local development activities by eliminating state tax benefits for enterprise zones and phasing out the current funding mechanism for redevelopment agencies. This will return billions in property tax revenues to schools, cities and counties and help pay for public safety, education and other services. 

The revenue component of the budget calls for an election this coming June where voters will be asked to continue current personal income and sales taxes, as well as the Vehicle License Fee rate, for five years. Brown said revenue from the sales tax and the vehicle license fee will be transferred directly to local governments to finance the first phase of his realignment plan. 

Brown’s budget also requires all corporations to use a single sales factor when measuring income attributable to California and calls for an amnesty program for taxpayers who have avoided or underreported income owed to the state. 

Brown called the spending plan “a tough budget for tough times” that will close the state’s structural deficit and provide a “strong and stable foundation” to meet future needs. 

“Without decisive action, the state’s severe budget problems will persist, threatening economic recovery, job growth, public education and the quality of life in California,” he said. “The adoption of this budget will position the state to lead the country as it slowly recovers from the Great Recession.” 

The Governor’s spending plan assumes that all statutory changes to implement budget actions will be adopted by the legislature in March, allowing the necessary ballot measures to be put before the people at a June special election. 

The Governor’s news conference will be streamed live this morning at 11:00 a.m. at www.calchannel.com. The budget, in full, will be posted online shortly after the news conference begins at: www.ebudget.ca.gov. 

###

Waste Management’s Cal-Sierra Disposal will make every effort to collect both waste and recycling carts.  However, waste collection is our priority, and we may not be able to service all recycling containers. 

Customers who have not received their regular service this week due to these conditions will be serviced double on their next scheduled service day at no additional charge.

For more information on local service and weather conditions, please contact Waste Management at (209) 532-1413.

Justin J. Caporusso
Communications Manager
Sacramento/Nevada Area
Waste Management
(916) 501-4280 – Direct
(775) 335-9705 – Direct

I don’t generally get too excited about things, but after considerable research on a number of these bills, my recent series of blogs on rewilding, and seeing how far along the radical activists’ “big picture plan” is, suffice it to say that I’m veryconcerned. It sounds like I’m not the only one.

Here’s the text from a press release from Doc Hastings, the ranking member on the Republican Committee of Natural Resources:

It isn’t known just how monstrous of a bill is being assembled – that’s the problem with backroom deals and omnibus packages.

The House Natural Resources Committee Republican staff has conducted a specific bill-by-bill analysis, based on public reports and reliable private accounts, of the range of legislation that is possibly being packaged into this omnibus – it could total as high as 126 bills, which would equate to a 1,400-page behemoth of over $10 billion in authorized spending.

The Boxer omnibus may never reach this full size, but the American people should know the scope of bills being considered.  This includes dozens of bills that have never passed a single committee, either chamber of Congress, or even been the subject of a hearing.

In addition to the cost of new spending and newly created programs, the omnibus could:  

• restrict the creation of energy jobs and more American-made energy,
• exacerbate the billions of dollars of backlogged maintenance on existing federal lands,
• vastly expand EPA’s control over waterways and economic activity,
• lock-up more public lands from public access and recreation, and
• complicate Border Patrol’s ability to secure our borders from criminals, drug traffickers and potential terrorists.

The American people loudly declared that this isn’t how they want business conducted by Congress, and Republicans on the Natural Resources Committee will respect the voters’ message by opposing any and all attempts to pass such an omnibus package during this lame duck.

If Democrats want to do the right thing, they will jettison their omnibus plans and instead genuinely work with Republicans and Democrats on both sides of the Capitol to reach agreement to move individual bills that can be passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.  It’s time to focus on what can pass in an agreeable manner.”

# # #

This is yet another reason to “thank” CA voters for returning Boxer to the Senate: our lives will be changed by the toxic Omnibus potion they’re planning to slam down our throats.

Just what part of NO do Reid and Boxer not understand? And what part of ran her most difficult race EVER does Ms. Boxer not understand. Strong arm tactics like these are what lost many of their colleagues their elections. I guess it was worth the sacrifice to these two? Their utter disregard for the will of the American people is just flat wrong.

Get off of the sofa, folks! Call or email your Senators, House Representatives, and the Obama administration. Don’t just just tell them no. Tell them “HELL NO!”

US Senate Phone Directory for 111th Congress

US House of Representatives Phone Directory for 111th Congress

 Email President Obama

Where’s Gary?  He DID take this photo… Come on, Gary. Post some photos of yourself, will ya?!

Gary Sipperley is an action hero. He’s a Peace Corp volunteer, talented writer, friend, and uber citizen. What he accomplished last Tuesday from Ethiopia was a big win for him and Tuolumne County.

Gary was the editor of the Sierra Mountain Times (SMT) in Twain Harte when I ran for supervisor in 2005/06. When he asked questions, I saw wheels turning. Fast ones. He was not adversarial, but neither did he try to make friends or influence. He told the truth.

He’s become a favorite constituent.

He eventually left the SMT and awhile back joined the Peace Corp in Ethiopia, working to prevent HIV there. Like other Peace Corp volunteers, he exchanged a comfortable home here  for primitive housing and work of great significance. Although his work predominantly benefits the Ethiopian people now, last Tuesday he scored for us big-time.

About two years ago,  he contacted me to ask if there was a way to get his road plowed when it snows. His home is on a non-county-maintained, very steep road that is treacherous in winter. We tried the usual channels and discovered there is a way, but the cost and obstacles to achieving it were insurmountable.

Gary wouldn’t give up. He emailed, made personal visits, spoke before the Board, and emailed some more. He even emailed from Ethiopia. Tuesday, he prevailed.

Anyone who lives on a non-county maintained road in Tuolumne County knows how frustrating it is to drive unplowed roads in the winter. When our Board passed an ordinance allowing property owners to approve a parcel tax to bring their road up to county standards, maintain, and plow it in perpetuity, staff discovered that the advance work was prohibitively expensive. Since those costs can only be recouped when 2/3 of the impacted property owners vote to assess themselves and they might not choose to do so (the advance work alone including engineering is around $10,000)  , Gary couldn’t get past first base.

He politely and respectfully continued his campaign anyway.

The first time the Board considered his request, it didn’t look good. But we asked staff to make it work. And you know what? They did. Public Works Director Peter Rei, his staff, and Counsel Carlyn Drivdahl found a way. Here’s how it will work:

The county will establish a  trust fund to be used to cover the costs of determining parcel assessments to inform the property owners. Folks like Gary and his neighbors will deposit $1,500 in advance and gather signatures from 75% of the property owners on their road so the engineering can start and a measure to consider an assessment can be placed on a ballot. Based on the subsequent high likelihood of success, the county will go ahead. When it’s approved the advance will be added to and the trust fund repaid via their annual assessment.

Gary made it happen – he scored his goal.

Good job, Citizen Sipperley.  You’re a veritable action hero!

So now the question is, what will Gary take on next? He’s got another year or more in the Peace Corp, but before he left there were still improvements in Twain Harte he wanted to see happen. A bocce ball court, for one.

Gary may be in Ethiopia, but hey, it could happen.

If Citizen Sipperley can do what he did on Tuesday, a bocce ball court should be a cake-walk for him.

Senate Majority Leader Steinberg, your proposal to shift $3-4 billion a year in ongoing programs AND costs to counties as a way to solve the state budget deficit is a whole new way to play the shell game.

Do you think we’re stupid? Do you think the public is?

[Read about it here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/06/senate-democrats-outline-plan.html]

Puhleez!

So while the media and sages are mulling this one over, let me point out  just a few teensy weensy problems I have with your plan to realign programs and costs:

1. Been here, done that. The state likes to transfer its responsibility to local governments. Sometimes you give us money to pay for new or existing responsibilities, but after a few years guess who is left holding the bag?
2. Get some guts. The Legislature has spent years creating huge behemoth programs. You want to cut your costs by inflating our costs with programs we didn’t create and don’t want?
3. Look us in the eyes and promise on your honor that once you divest the state of responsibility for these programs, you won’t create new ones as soon as  you have a smaller deficit. Yeah, right.
4. Do you think you’ve got public support to raise taxes on things like oil production, permanently extend the higher vehicle license fee rate, and delay corporate tax breaks? You must be pretty confident you can do that and get your majority re-elected. Good luck with that one.
5. You want to give counties  ”greater authority to seek local tax hikes from voters”? Are you proposing to erode Prop 13 and the required 2/3 majority vote required to raise taxes? Seriously, dude. I mean, Senator Dude.
6. If you cut the deficit by offloading state costs, you’re not erasing the deficit. You’re just pushing it downhill to us. Don’t want it, Senator.

I sure hope the minority party doesn’t think duty stops with  a vigorous fight against tax hikes. They’d better fight just as hard to insure you take care of the problems you created.

I’m not buying this plan to “plant the flag next to a long-term plan to restructure government in California”  and sure I hope my colleagues in local government aren’t either. We’re not stupid. Neither is the public.

And that’s all I’m going to say about that. Today.

We’re not a large county. Our total budget is around $143 million. Perhaps our numbers don’t seem too bad, but proportionally, these are major setbacks. They’re going to hurt.

Over the last five years, the General Fund has dropped by almost $11.7 million and revenues are down 7.1% from last year.  Board policy is to maintain a minimum of $1 million in a contingency fund, however this year it is proposed to contain just  $750,000 and will likely be all that stands between us and draconian cuts that will have to be made after the state budget is approved.

While the cuts are being couched in terms of employee positions to be eliminated, what that actually means is a reduction in service levels to the public. These are just some of the actions being proposed: the “high” points, if you will.

Due to the privatization of Tuolumne General Hospital, the Visiting Nurses Association, and other cost-cutting actions, the Board has eliminated 270+ permanent positions over the time I’ve been in office. This year’s budget proposes to further reduce the workforce by 70 permanent employees (26 employees will be moved under a tri-county Child Support Services Department).

Staff is asking the Board to consider allocating the yet-to-be received Transient Occupancy Taxes approved by the voters this month to restore some positions slated to be cut (including restoring the 4-H Program manager  and Public Defender’s attorney to full time, adding back an on call Animal Control officer, and a half-time Director of Library Services, the Public Health Officer (to .8), and restoring a Road Department and housekeeper position.

Some of the significant proposed reductions include the elimination of the Board’s Assistant Clerk (necessitating consideration of a reduced Board meeting schedule), back-filling the Board Clerk’s workload with a portion of the CAO’s executive assistant’s time, eliminating three full-time positions in the Assessor-Recorder’s office, eliminating four employees from the Facilities Management Department (and relief positions, as well), transferring the Film Commissioner to the Tuolumne County Visitor’s Bureau, reducing the Information Technology Department by two employees, delaying hiring of a District Attorney’s investigator, a reduction in hours for two Public Defender’s attorneys, eliminating three employees from the Sheriff-Coroner’s budget, not replacing ten Sheriff’s vehicles, demoting two positions, and eliminating a Jail Commander position.

The Probation Department is slated to lose a position, the Community Development Department four positions, and Environmental Health, one.  The Library is proposed to lose its 1/2 time Library Director as well as operating hours and Bookmobile days, although all branches will remain open. The Recreation Department is proposed to operate seasonally rather than year-round and two full time positions could be eliminated.

In the Public Works Department, Engineering is proposed to lose one full-time position. Road Maintenance revenues will be down almost $1.2 million due to reductions in state and federal funding. Road funds will be used to supplement the Department and one position is proposed to be cut. It goes without saying that this may impact both construction projects AND snowplowing. Please take it easy on Evan this winter – it’s not his fault (nor is it mine!).

County Fire has reduced permanent positions by two (resulting in paperwork processing delays, but not a reduction in fire services). The County proposes to continue staffing two Amador Contract stations (seasonal), Mono Village (full-time) and Jamestown (six months). The Solid Waste Department will lose one position. Solid Waste fees are being proposed to be increased significantly to cover repayment of an internal loan from the Traffic Mitigation Fund ($1.7 million).

The Health Department will be hit particularly hard due to a large reduction in H1N1 funding and other grant funds that are not available in the coming year. Clinic staff and the Public Health Officer positions are proposed to be eliminated to balance the fund budget. Obviously, such a reduction would be catastrophic should a pandemic or other major health crisis emerge. A significant amount of Behavior Health one-time contingency funds will be required to balance the budget and the recently established Crisis Stabilization Program will be retooled (but actual coverage will increase).

The Welfare Fund is proposed to lose four full-time employees due to retirements, vacancies, and layoffs. This despite the fact that there will surely be an increase in demand for services. Ambulance Fund revenues will be down by over a quarter of a million dollars and the budget is balanced without contingencies or capital improvement allocations. The Airport Department staff is proposed to be reduced by one full-time position and the Airports Director position will be transferred into the Public Works Department  to begin to oversee a new Fleet Management division.

Like I said, those are some high points… Yeah, right.

We anticipate a crowd at Tuesday’s meeting. Folks will come out in support of the Departments and positions they feel are indispensible and the Board will try to make the best of a very, very bad situation. We need to hear from you, but please realize that every Department is important to someone. The Board will need to make some difficult decisions.

The hardest part is that Tuesday will not be the end of the cuts and readjustments, but merely another difficult day of our work in process.

Over the last four years, in order to live within our means, the Board has adhered to critically important key principles: 1) don’t spend more than we take in; 2) maintain reasonable reserves and contingencies; and 3) minimize and promptly repay debt. These actions have enabled us to look beyond the immediate future to the long term. It’s a good thing.

Among precautionary measures taken were the closure of Tuolumne General Hospital, the establishment of the Tuolume County Economic Development Authority with the City of Sonora, projecting multi-year budgets, and being proactive to  identify and eliminate unnecessary costs.

These have been both necessary and helpful, although in and of themselves they will not be enough to close a yawning gap between revenues and spending.

Beginning in March, the Board heard a number of presentations from Chief Administrative Officer, Craig Pedro. Here’s what we were told and how we responded:

• Mar. 16: FY 2010/11 multi-year budget projections - Craig forecasted the economy wouldn’t see a notable and sustained change for 2-3 years, more cuts and cost shifts would be made by the state, local revenues won’t rebound for 2-3 more years, and all the County’s major operating funds  would experience operational deficits if the Board did not authorize immediate corrective action;
• Apr. 6: FY 2010/11 budget strategies – he recommended and the Board adopted nine specific actions to be taken (see below) to prepare the upcoming draft budget;
• Apr. 27 – May 11: Craig made reorganization proposals – six of them – which ranged from moving Behavioral Health into the Human Services Agency to moving Recreation and Libraries under the CAO’s office (not a popular option with supporters of either agency). This will result in the elimination of 10 full time employee positions;
• May 11: 2010 Early Retirement Program – his plan would eventually allow 14 employees to retire and should save the County $1.3 million over the next five years; and
• Jun. 1: the Board directed him to close gaps and balance each of the County’s major funds. We selected priorties for balancing the budget.

The following nine strategies were adopted to develop the budget:

1. Implement a selective hiring and expenditure freeze in order to build fund balances to be carried over to next fiscal year;
2. Economize where possible (all non-essential funding requests were limited by department heads);
3. Reduce staffing where work volume indicated a reduced workload (Human Resources, the Community Development Department, Public Works, and Environmental Health);
4. Stop providing services that can be provided by the private sector (previous years have seen more aggressive action on this front, although the Tuolumne County Film Commission and some County services are being spun off to be provided by Avalon Healthcare);
5. Evaluate the elimination of some existing services  that are unfunded state mandates (not much cost savings can be realized here);
6. Implement streamlining and cutting costs via reorganization of internal departments;
7. Negotiate cost savings via bargaining with the County labor unions (pension reform, benefit concessions, furloughs, etc.);
8. Offer an early retirement program (40 people came forward); and
9. As a last resort, implement staff reductions and  reductions in services via extending the payoff of some debt, utlize $1 million in cash reserves to preserve jobs and services, and prioritize public safety and roads services, while implementing common sense measures in other departments.

In Part II, we’ll summarize the results of the impending draft budget. Guaranteed you’re not going to like it much.

Over the next few months the budget may get better… but more likely, it will get worse. Far worse.

Until the state approves their budget, ours is just a work in progress.

The Board is preparing a first-ever 5-year strategic plan to guide our direction and management efforts and would like your input.

We’ll post an online survey you can take between Jan. 26 and Feb. 23rd  (at www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov) and hold a series of Board meetings in each supervisorial district to hear from you.

Meetings schedule

Specifically, the Board will ask you to answer a few questions:

1. What are the greatest needs in the County now?
2. On what services should the County place highest priority now?
3. What main issues should the County be planning for in the future?
4. How should the Board go about balancing future County budgets?

For more information, please call the County Administrator’s office at 209-533-5511.

I look forward to hearing from many of you in the upcoming weeks. Thanks for your help as we work together to make Tuolumne County better for our children and our future.

Sonora - The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors wants input from residents on what they feel are the most important things the County should be doing over the next several years. Your input will help staff develop a first ever 5-Year Strategic Plan for the County.

We’ve scheduled a series of special Board meetings in each supervisorial district. The schedule is:

• January 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Willow Springs Club House;
• February 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Chambers;
• February 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Black Oak School/Telele Lodge
• February 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Groveland Community Hall; and
• February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Church of the 49er Social Hall .

Can’t attend any of those dates? Some districts (including District 3) will hold additional Town Hall meetings to get further input – we’re planning a Town Hall meeting in Tuolumne, as well.

There will also be a basic survey you can complete any time from January 26 through February 23 online at www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov.

We’d like your opinion on the following:

• What are the greatest needs within the County right now?
• What are the highest priority County services?
• What are the main issues the County should be planning for in the future?
• How should County leaders go about balancing future budgets?

After the special meetings are held and responses received to the survey, County staff will draft a 5-Year Strategic Plan reflective of citizen input for Board consideration. Citizens will be asked to comment on the draft plan once completed, and the Board will adopt a final plan within the next several months.

###