OROVILLE – Butte County officials will be speaking at a town hall meeting to discuss county budget gaps and proposed funding measures to mitigate the shortfalls on Monday at the State Theatre.
Hosted by the Oroville Community Development Coalition, the event will start at 5:30 p.m. with guest speakers Butte County Chief Administrative Officer Andy Picket, Butte County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Meegan Jessee and Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
Among the items to be discussed are the historical cause of the budget shortfall, which dates back to the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, as well as actions the county has taken to keep the budget balanced. These steps have included program, services and staffing reductions, consolidations and cuts; deferred maintenance to county facilities; and employing one-time funds to bridge the budget gaps.
To balance the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget the county used $11 in one-time funds. Another $15 million in one-time funds will be needed to balance the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget. The practice of using one-time funds is something Picket said is not fiscally practical over the long term and cannot continue.
Also on the agenda will be a proposal to place a measure on the November ballot to increase county sales tax by 1% which, if approved, would generate an estimated $44 million annually to the county coffers and close the budget gap, according to Picket.
“The $44 million would go toward restoring and paying for services previously reduced or cut,” said Pickett. “It would also go toward a huge new expense – the new jail which is going to require millions of dollars in staffing to run. After that we want to look at other programs and services including restoring libraries back to seven days a week; fully funding all positions at the Butte County Fire Department; adding back prosecutors so they have manageable caseload; adding back deputies and bringing back the sheriff department’s Designated Area program where we’d have deputies living or specifically concentrated in communities.”
To determine the feasibility of the tax increase, county staff worked with a consultant to “look at a number of different potential revenue generators,” said Picket. Additionally, the county conducted an on-line community survey and community polling. More than 1,300 citizens participated in the survey and more than 600 “likely voters” were polled.
The survey results showed that county residents’ priorities include maintaining wildfire protection and response; caring for neglected and abused children; and, retaining and increasing fire fighters, EMTs and sheriff deputies.
“The scientific polling was more specific and asked what people thought of a tax increase,” said Picket. “A sales tax increase was the one individuals had the most interest in. There was little interest in other types of revenue generators including increases in property tax, specific tax or fees.”
On June 11, the day after this town hall meeting, staff will be asking the Board of Supervisors “if they are interested in putting a sales tax increase measure on the November ballot,” said Picket. If the board is in favor of it, the first reading of the ordinance will be on the Board of Supervisor’s June 25 meeting agenda. The second reading and adoption would then be on the June 30 meeting agenda, said Picket.
Monday’s town hall is not the first community meeting held to address the county’s budget shortfall and citizen priorities. Meetings were hosted at all four county libraries in Oroville, Chico, Gridley and Paradise in May but, attendance was sparse, said Picket who is hoping Monday’s event at the State Theatre will draw a large crowd.
“I would like people to show up at the town hall meeting so we can have dialog about this issue,” said Picket. It’s a big issue for community, for the county. People need to be educated about our situation that way if the board does put the sales tax increase measure on the November ballot individuals will have an understanding of what their vote means to themselves and the community. Likewise I need to hear from community about what is important to them in terms of county government services and programs.
Picket also wants the public to know that it’s not too late to participate in the community survey, saying the response has been “so great we are leaving it open to get all the input we can get.” The survey may be accessed at https://www.buttecounty.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=73.
