Wings Over Solano coming to Travis AFB in May A3
Seahawks agree to trade Russell Wilson to Broncos B1
WEDNESDAY | March 9, 2022 | $1.00
DAILYREPUBLIC.COM | Well said. Well read.
Biden blocks Russian oil imports in new sanction Tribune Content Agency
Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic file (2020)
Residents survey the damage to their home in Pleasants Valley from the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, Aug. 24, 2020. Solano County supervisors voted Tuesday to
skip the June 2022 election for a possible fire safety tax measure and instead target the later November 2022 election.
Solano supervisors push ‘fire tax’ ballot measure back to November Todd R. Hansen
THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
FAIRFIELD — Solano County supervisors will continue to talk about a proposed sales tax increase to pay for wildfire safety needs, but will not ask for the voters’ support just yet. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted not to place a general eighth-cent sales tax increase measure on the June 7 ballot, hoping instead to get the support from city fire chiefs and firefighter unions in developing a plan on how best to use the estimated $9 million in annual revenue the tax would generate. The measure called for a 20-year sunset. Board Chairman John Vasquez said if it was up to him he would go ahead with the measure in June, and Supervisor Monica Brown said she is “terrified” that putting the matter off will become part of the county’s long history of talking
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about the issue without action. Brown noted that the Red Top Road area had three fires last year, a location that is just “three football fields from my home.”
“I’m terrified,” said Brown, noting the wildfire that also devastated Santa Rosa and saying the same could happen in Solano County cities, too. “So I’m going to have to have a lot of convincing that something is going to happen (in November), and I’m not seeing it.” “I’m tired of hearing we’ve been talking about it,” Vasquez said. In the end, though, the two supervisors joined the other three to push the issue back for consideration to the Nov. 8 ballot. However, the board also asked for a commitment from those interested parties opposed to the measure to step up and help come up with a workable plan. He got that verbal commitment from Jeff Toynbee, who was at the meeting representing the International Association of Fire Fighters Professional Firefighters Union Local 1186. He had See Tax, Page A8
County: Finances in decent shape at midyear, due in part to vacancies Todd R. Hansen
THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
FAIRFIELD — Solano County revenues grew by $30 million from forecasted levels at the start of the 2021-22 fiscal year July 1, largely due to one-time funds from the Genentech property tax settlement and a $6 million spike in the state Proposition 172 public safety sales tax share. The midyear revenues are up to $1.64 billion, the county reported. At the same time, expenditures were down largely due to salary and benefit savings from vacancies, which in February reached nearly 400 positions. The Board of Supervisors were told Tuesday as part of a midyear review the county now expects to carry over $44.3 million into the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins July 1. That includes a $14 million
The county now expects to carry over $44.3 million into the 2022-23 fiscal year that begins July 1. contingency. The year-end balance to start the current fiscal year was $56.1 million, but $38 million went to balance the shortfall in the operations budgets. Another $14 million went into contingencies and $4.8 million into various reserve accounts. Since then, the county has been building that year-end funding balance back up with extra revenues and expenditure savings. “I think a good way to look at the county is to look at its three biggest funds,” said Ian Goldberg, the county budget officer. The three combine to represent about $900 million of the
$1.1 billion budget. The general fund was at a midyear appropriations level of $308.2 million, with $10.9 million in increased revenue and $12.2 million in expenditure savings. The public safety fund was at $237.7 million with $9.6 million in decreased revenue, but an equal cut in expenditures. The general fund’s contribution to public safety was down $12.7 million to $131.8 million. The largest fund – Health and Social Services – was at $360.6 million with revenues down $32.3 million and expenditures down $34.5 million. The general fund added $67,000 to its contribution, taking the amount to $32.7 million. The board also adjusted the number of employee positions by 17, with 22 added and five deleted. That takes the number of approved full-time equivalent posi-
tions to 3,189.83. The vacancies as of February totaled 388.39. One growing concern is the skyrocketing price of fuel for the county vehicles. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System rate for the miscellaneous fund is anticipated to increase from 28.96% to 29.86%, while the public safety account rate is expected to drop from 38.39% to 37.82%. Only $250,000 in board-approved American Rescue Plan Act funds are reflected in the budget, funds that went to hire paralegals and help with the court landlord-tenant eviction disputes. The board also wants the proposed budget that comes back in June to include funds for fire safety issues – notably a dispatch service to connect all fire agencies, but also funds that can help the rural districts.
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that the U.S. will ban the importing of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal, broadening the economic sanctions leveled against Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The targeting of Russia’s most lucrative industry despite the likelihood of higher gasoline prices comes as bipartisan support in Congress has coalesced behind such restrictions and Europe has begun taking steps to reduce its imports of Russian energy products. The oil ban and other tough sanctions are being imposed by Western powers in the hopes of persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt his all-out attack on the former Soviet republic.
WEATHER 70 | 43 Sunny and clear. Forecast on B10.
See Biden, Page A8
Ukraine’s refugee tally hits 2 million Tribune Content Agency KYIV, Ukraine — World condemnation of Russia’s war against neighboring Ukraine intensified Tuesday as a trickle of trapped civilians from one city made their way toward relative safety, but another agreed-upon pathway, from a battered and encircled seaport, came under Russian bombardment. Ukraine welcomed the toughening of Western sanctions against Moscow, including President Joe Biden’s announcement Tuesday of a U.S. ban on importing Russian oil. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued to plead for more forceful intervention in a 13-day-old conflict that has produced more than 2 million refugees and shaken world markets. “Please increase the pressure of sanctions against this country, and please recognize this
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country as a terrorist state,” Zelenskyy said, blasting Russia in a video speech Tuesday to Britain’s Parliament – a rare honor accorded to a foreign leader. Zelenskyy reminded Britain of its own struggle against conquest by the Nazis in World War II and, in a deliberate echo of Winston Churchill, said Ukraine would never give in. “We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost. We will fight in the forests, in the fields, on the shores, in the streets,” he told a packed House of Commons, which gave him a standing ovation. Britain announced Tuesday that it would join the U.S. in taking action against Russian oil, with plans to phase out such imports by the end of the year. And adding to the list of mega-corporations abandoning Russia, McDonald’s announced it was temporarily closing See Ukraine, Page A8
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“Russian oil will no longer be accepted at U.S. ports,” Biden said in a speech from the White House. “We will not be part of subsidizing Putin’s war.” “Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price, but this much is already clear: Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin. Putin may be able to take a city. But he’ll never be able to hold the country,” Biden said, adding that the ban would target “the main artery of Russia’s economy.” Biden’s action was welcomed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who tweeted he was “thankful” the president had delivered a blow at “the heart of Putin’s war machine and banning oil, gas and coal from US market. Encour-
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