COUNTY EMPLOYEES MAY HAVE TO TAKE A PAY CUT
County
employees may have to take a pay cut....With an operating
deficit expected to nearly double next year - from $45
million to $86.2 million - San Bernardino County may have to
force its employees to take a 5 percent pay cut or consent
to volunteer retirements. Despite a hiring freeze and other
cost-saving measures implemented by the county in the last
two years, come July 1, county employees may be forced to
start sacrificing two hours of pay per week. That equates to
13 unpaid days off a year, which would save the county an
estimated $18.2 million. In addition, qualified employees
may be able to opt for a volunteer retirement plan that
would reward them an additional $1,000 a year for five years
after they retire. Two of the county's biggest revenue
streams, property tax and sales tax, are expected to decline
by 6 percent and 10 percent, respectively, next year. County
Administrators presented the dismal scenario Tuesday to the
Board of Supervisors, which approved the mid-year budget
adjustments on a 4-1 vote. The county is also considering an
8 percent cut to all of its departments, with the exception
of Human Services, which administers state-funded
social-service programs. Other departments to be spared
include the Sheriff's Department, Probation Department,
District Attorney's Office and the Public Defender's Office.
...Back To Headlines...
TWENTYNINE PALMS CITY COUNCIL REVERSES ITSELF,
OK’S MASTER PLAN CITIZENS COMMITTEE
The
Twentynine Palms City Council reversed itself, approving the
forming of a citizens committee to have input into a 1.2
million dollar new City Master Plan. Managing Editor Karl
Gardner was at last night’s meeting and files this report
------
An explication of what it would do, and a strong request by
citizens, reversed a majority of the Twentynine Palms City
Council’s opinion on establishing a Citizens Advisory
Committee for upcoming General Plan Update. Initially
scoffed by the Council as being too costly, the issue of
establishing the committee came back to the council at last
evening’s meeting. Following an in-depth presentation by the
City’s consultant Hogle-Ireland, Paul Smith, President of
the Innkeeper’s Association fostered arguments if favor of
the committee, along with Twentynine Palms resident Owen
Gillick who said, "I strongly recommend that you have a
citizen’s committee". Weighing the added $42,000 the
committee would cost, against the presentation and citizen’s
comments, Council Member Steve Spear said, "That swayed me,
so I’d be one to move forward." Council Members John Cole
and Steve Flock likewise changed their view. The only
opposition, Mayor Joel Klink who voted against the General
Plan Update, said "I’m going to stick with my guns, and I’m
not in favor of it".
...Back To Headlines...
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT THIS WEEKEND [AUDIO ONLY]
U-HAUL TRUCKS VANDALIZED IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
Senseless vandals damaged several trucks at the Twentynine
Palms U-Haul over the weekend. Sheriff’s reports say that
sometime between Saturday and Sunday, someone bent the
windshield wiper arms on all the trucks on the lot in the
4900 block of Adobe Road. If bending the wiper arms weren’t
enough, the suspect also tried to siphon gasoline from the
trucks. The reporting party set damages at around $1000.00.
...Back To Headlines...
YUCCA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON MATER
DRAINAGE PLAN TOMORROW NIGHT
Just
where should the water go? The problem of drainage in the
Town of Yucca Valley is finally getting addressed by the
Town Council. Reporter Dan Stork say at tomorrow night’s
meeting, the council will start the process of developing a
master drainage plan ------
In the 10 years since Yucca Valley’s Master Plan for
Drainage was written, no drainage facilities have been
constructed – in large part due to the issue of how to pay
for them. One approach would have developers bear the full
cost; this is the most costly alternative – for developers.
A second approach would be to collect Developer Impact Fees.
This approach was adopted in 2005. The fee schedule that
Council approved at that time imposed a fraction of what
staff had originally proposed. Even the larger Developer
Impact Fees that were not adopted fell very far short
of meeting the actual estimated construction costs for
drainage facilities. A third approach that has been added
this time around is to establish "benefit assessment
districts", in which all parcels that would benefit from
drainage facilities would pay for them through their
property taxes. An outside consultant has prepared a
detailed report of how this might play out for one area of
town. The Council will consider how to generalize the model,
and may provide direction to Town staff for further
development of the idea.
...Back To Headlines...
YUCCA VALLEY AIRPORT DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TONIGHT [AUDIO
ONLY]
HOSPICE VOLUNTEER TRAINING BEGINS IN ONE WEEK [AUDIO ONLY]
HI DESERT MEDICAL CENTER BOARD HEARS MOSTLY BAD
NEWS ABOUT MONEY
It was
bad news, bad news, and a little good news last night for
the Hi-Desert Medical Center Board of Directors last night.
Reporter Tami Roleff says financial reports were not pretty
-------
Money was once again the main topic at last night’s
Hi-Desert Medical Center Board of Directors. From a
presentation on contracts with insurance companies and
health maintenance organizations, to the hospital’s
finances, to the increasing toll charity cases have on the
physicians, it seems nearly every discussion came back to
money, or the lack thereof. The board was told the hospital
refuses to contract with IEHP, the Inland Empire Health
Plan, because it insists on taking a cut of the already low
payments the hospital receives for Medi-Cal. Board member Dr
Dennis Wilcox told the board that when he was recruited, he
was told charity and bad debt cases would make up about 4
percent of his cases, but in the last 6 months, he said it’s
been closer to 12 percent. Some employees have been
wondering if the hospital would be able to make its payroll
due to funds being withheld by the state due to the budget
crisis; Chief Executive Officer Chad Chadwick assured the
board that the hospital can make payroll and intends to make
payroll. There is a silver lining to the bad economic times,
he added; the hospital has more people applying for jobs
than ever before. Good news though: the hospital had a
surplus of $240,000 in December and $540,000 year to date.
...Back To Headlines...
REPTILES ALIVE AT THE HI-DESERT NATURE MUSEUM TOMORROW AT
NOON [AUDIO ONLY]
VALENTINE CELEBRATION TOMORROW AT JOSHUA TREE LIBRARY [AUDIO
ONLY]
WORLD MUSIC AT YUCCA VALLEY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE
TONIGHT [AUDIO ONLY]
COPPER MOUNTAIN BOARD MEETS TOMORROW
The
Copper Mountain College Board will meet in regular session.
Reporter Tami Roleff checks out the agenda -------
The Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees will open its
regular meeting at 2 PM Thursday with a closed session to
evaluate the performance of its superintendent/president and
to discuss a liability claim against the college. The open
session of the meeting will begin at 3 pm in Classroom 11 at
the college. On the agenda, the board will hear reports from
board members, staff, employee representatives, and
students. Among the items on the consent agenda are approval
of new, revised, modified, and deactivated course outlines
and programs, faculty and staff travel, routine human
resource appointments. Among the items on the action agenda
is a nomination for the Community College Classified
Employee of the Year, routine budget items, the title
transfer of 80 acres in Joshua Tree National Park to the
National Park Service, and contracts for various computer
programs.
...Back To Headlines...
TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
FINISH FIRST IN LEAGUE
The
Twentynine Palms High School Wildcats Girls Varsity
basketball team concluded their third 20 win season in the
last six years with a victory at Big Bear Friday night , 60
to 41. The game raised the ladies record to 20 and 5. There
will be a home playoff game on either February 19th
or 21st due to their first place finish in
league. Scoring leaders on the night were Captains Irie
Engesser with 18 points 9 rebounds and Haly Herrera with 15
points 7 assists. Coach Tim Stanford said Wildcat of the
Week for Girls basketball is Rayele Elmore.
...Back To Headlines...
YUCCA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TAKE ON BIG
BEAR TODAY
In
local high school sports today, the Yucca Valley High School
Trojan Basketball squads are up against the Big Bear Bears.
The boys’ host the Bears at Yucca Valley, the Lady Trojans
travel up the hill to Big Bear. Tip off for both games are
at 6:30.
...Back To Headlines...
