LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a mid-year fiscal budget review and made necessary adjustments to selected budget times that will continue funding county operations.
Jeff Rein from the County Administrative Office said the primary purpose of the mid-year budget is to amend the adopted budget and to adjust for significant changes in revenue.
“For the most part these reflect the transferring of funding from one expenditure category to another, in which case there is no net change in overall appropriations,” Rein said.
He added that mid-year reviews also reflect changes in positions over time, whether it be a new position or the addition or removal of existing positions.
All adjustments were approved by the supervisors, aside from a few of the special projects. These include monies for the Nice Clubhouse, Lucerne Harbor and the Lower Lake Parking lot.
It has been asked that further research be done on these projects to make sure that they belong as first priority projects, or if there are potentially other projects that should be completed with available funds.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said if some of the funds were being used for roads he would approve of the projects because those are something needed in the county.
“I get the argument that it was District 3 and it should go back in there and to some degree, I don’t have a problem with that but maybe not for those projects,” Brown said. “I don’t see the Lucerne Harbor or the remodel of the clubhouse as a high priority like roads.”
District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele said these projects have been discussed in the Advisory Councils and could potentially help kick-start the economy in the district and the county.
“This is actually a revenue generator as much as it is anything and it basically has got the town very excited about the fact that there is potential for people to tie their boats there and use local restaurants,” Steele said.
After research is done on the projects that were removed, an updated list of what is a priority for the county will be presented to the board for approval.
In other projects, there was an increase of funds for the Clearlake Oaks Sidewalk Project, purchasing of new equipment needed for the District Attorney’s office, water system repairs and replacements and the buying of other heavy equipment such as dump trucks.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said county department heads and their staffs monitor the funds so when it comes time to do fiscal year review they have accurate information on what they need and can spend.
“I greatly appreciate the assistance of the Department Heads and their staff in preparing this report and presenting the recommendations herein for the Board’s consideration,” Huchingson said.
