Supervisor Adam Talks About Budget Priorities

This increase will increase funding for road maintenance to $12 million, the minimum amount needed to keep our roads in their current condition.

“I have been getting the reputation for being “The Deferred Maintenance Guy”, but this budget request does not attack our backlog of deferred maintenance. It just keeps our roads in their current condition. Without this additional funding our roads will deteriorate” Adam said, “It’s about priorities. Any restoration or program expansions that take place ahead of this funding is a message to the public that we will have the party now and have future generations foot the bill.”

The obvious challenge is the tight budget. “Budgeted increases to strategic reserve and funds allocated to deferred maintenance are the obvious place to start, that’s $7 million right there. It makes no sense to save for deferred maintenance while not addressing known and immediate needs.”

And the roads are only one part of the maintenance issue. We have a huge backlog of deferred maintenance to our buildings and parks. “Happily, my fellow board members joined me in authorizing staff and outside consultants to formulate a plan to attack this backlog. The challenge will be to find the funds to do what needs to be done.” The second step in the process comes Friday when the Board needs to allocate the necessary $350,000 to fund the project.

Supervisor Adam also offers a compromise for the county’s funding of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension services including the 4H youth Program. “I would like to see the board offer up a 6 month allocation of funding, it is apparent that the program needs more time to find a permanent solution.” In a letter to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Erin Weber of the Orfalea Foundation offered to “lend its expertise by exploring restructuring possibilities to ensure the continuation of these vital programs.”