4c) Discussion and Possible Action Including Direction for the Chief Executive Officer to Require All Offices and Departments to Present up to a 10% Cut to Their Proposed Budget
(Sponsors: Supervisor Haschak and Supervisor Williams)
A'Kesh Eidi, Chapter President SEIU 1021.
Good morning, Supervisors.
First, I applaud the efforts thus far to close the budget gap. They have been thoughtful, and while very difficult decisions have been made, I am concerned that this last 3 million may be the most difficult of all.
This agenda item carries an underlying presumption that Department Heads have not already made every cut or savings they can. Staff are already feeling the effects of underfunding. We have more than one report that basic requests like toilet paper for bathrooms are not being filled because Facilities is not ordering. Some Departments have already presented a balanced budget that, if reduced, would decrease revenue.
So I ask, what does the Board hope to accomplish with this directive? Departments are already on shoestring budgets. Staff are already fielding questions from the public about how their services will be cut due to the uncertainty at the State and Federal level. Further cuts at the County level can only impact accessibility to services. The budget trends at the Federal level will only increase the work and budget burdens at the State and Local level.
We request that the thoughtfulness and consideration shown thus far be not abandoned in the haste to find the last 3 million to close the budget gap. Respect a Department report that comes back to you with "there's nothing left to cut." We understand that "one time funds" ought to mean "just this time and no more," and we are willing to collaborate to support additional revenue sources for future budgets.
Some departments are already running on fumes and they can't bring in the full amount of revenue possible.
A'Kesh Eidi, Chapter President SEIU 1021.
Good morning, Supervisors.
First, I applaud the efforts thus far to close the budget gap. They have been thoughtful, and while very difficult decisions have been made, I am concerned that this last 3 million may be the most difficult of all.
This agenda item carries an underlying presumption that Department Heads have not already made every cut or savings they can. Staff are already feeling the effects of underfunding. We have more than one report that basic requests like toilet paper for bathrooms are not being filled because Facilities is not ordering. Some Departments have already presented a balanced budget that, if reduced, would decrease revenue.
So I ask, what does the Board hope to accomplish with this directive? Departments are already on shoestring budgets. Staff are already fielding questions from the public about how their services will be cut due to the uncertainty at the State and Federal level. Further cuts at the County level can only impact accessibility to services. The budget trends at the Federal level will only increase the work and budget burdens at the State and Local level.
We request that the thoughtfulness and consideration shown thus far be not abandoned in the haste to find the last 3 million to close the budget gap. Respect a Department report that comes back to you with "there's nothing left to cut." We understand that "one time funds" ought to mean "just this time and no more," and we are willing to collaborate to support additional revenue sources for future budgets.
Thank you.