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Oyster Fest Mess
who remains employed by the county. Staff is also recommending that the board extend a program that allows department heads to authorize voluntary unpaid furloughs for county employees. The county is looking at a $2.9 million loss to its general fund for fiscal year 201314, according to the third quarter budget review issued earlier today. There appears to be a perfect storm of financial woes hitting simultaneously. Among the many factors are rate hikes from the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the elimination of state redevelopment agencies, the expense of hiring outside legal counsel and the nation’s slow economic recovery. The estimated balance of the general fund at the end of this fiscal year is just over $4.6 million, according to the budget review. Next fiscal year’s expenditures are projected to exceed $107 million while revenue is expected to be just over $104 million. That would leave only $1.6 million in the general fund for fiscal year 2014-15. “This is very concerning,” Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Smith-Hanes states in the budget review. The layoffs to the Aviation Division will save the county just $88,990, or roughly 3 percent of the projected shortfall. Nearly $200,000 in funding could come from the state thanks to Assembly Bill 109, also known as public safety realignment. More savings could be achieved through various “budget adjustments” recommended in the review, but not nearly enough to cover the projected imbalance. Reserves are also dwindling. Between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011 the county spent $2.75 million from its general reserve fund. That kitty is now down to just $750,000. “The County’s General Reserve should be 26 to 33 times higher than the present level,” the budget review states.
FOOD / BY GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH / THURSDAY, MAY 2, (PLUS UPDATES) When the Journal broke the news Tuesday that admission to this year’s Oyster Festival will cost $10, folks went into a tizzy. In more than 100 comments on the Journal’s Facebook page, detractors decried the “elitist” move and threatened boycotts, while proponents said 10 clams is a small price to pay for a day of music and fun at one of Humboldt County’s most popular events. At least one disgruntled vendor said he’s trying to back out. Arcata Main Street, which puts on the annual festival, needs money, and it figures an admission fee will also help control an event that’s gotten too big and too unruly, according to Executive Director Jennifer Koopman. The admission fee is lower for kids; parents will have to pay $5 for those aged 12-17, and those younger than 12 will still get in for free. And the festival won’t charge for those beer wristbands any more, according to its press release. Because of recent financial woes, Koopman said, Main Street needs money to keep Oyster Fest afloat. Not to mention Main Street’s other events throughout the year, including Arts! Arcata. The fee will allow Main Street to fund an aquaculture grant and an Arcata High School scholarship program, she said. The organization’s press release said in part: “Putting on a festival of this magnitude is very expensive and unfortunately due to the loss of redevelopment funds from the state we have had our budget cut dramatically,” said Arcata Main Street Vice President Nicholas Matthews. “These budget cuts and the increasing price of putting on this event had put the viability of promoting future events of this nature in jeopardy.” That was no consolation to Walt Cordeiro, the general manager of Hana
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Chinese & American Food
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northcoastjournal.com• NORTH • NORTH COAST JOURNAL • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 COAST JOURNAL • THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 northcoastjournal.com