Budget hearings started Monday for Fresno county supervisors. County Administrator, John Navarrette, expects 120 jobs to be lost in this budget.
"This is a very trying time for elected officials and labor because we've never been in this position in the 25 years I've been with the county," said Navarrette.
This year's budget is at $1.71 billion. County supervisors expect revenues to continue to slide and more jobs to be lost.
"We should be reducing workforce levels and ratcheting it down and matching it to service levels because the money is going to get worse, not better," said Supervisor Henry Perea.
But there is also growing frustration on the county board over inaction in Sacramento. Especially as many local departments rely heavily on state funding and grants.
"You can't structure a budget on a what-if. Let's amend until we find better answers," said Navarrette.
The administrator points to CalWorks which could face the governor's axe. CalWorks provides temporary assistance for needy families. If CalWorks was cut, that would mean an allotted $180 million would not come to Fresno County. Navarette says that could mean a lot more job cuts.
"We're making a budget assuming we're going to get some of that money. That would be devastating to this county," said Supervisor Phil Larson.
County supervisors could approve a budget as early as Friday of this week.
TXT 24
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