One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Around 200 Riverside County workers may lose jobs to budget gap
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone.
(
www.supjeffstone.org
)
Listen
1:29
Around 200 Riverside County workers may lose jobs to budget gap
Nearly 200 Riverside County workers could be out of a job come May if county leaders move forward with a plan aimed at closing an $80 million budget gap.
During a budget workshop, the county’s chief financial officer Ed Corser lay out the numbers.
"We're $30 million short on the revenue we anticipated and we added $50 million of one-time money in the current year budget," Corser explained, before adding, "That’s all gotta be taken care of.”
Corser says the local economy is slowly rebounding and jobs are coming back. Meanwhile, income from sales tax is up but property tax revenue is still in the tank.
"We got some one-time money but I tell ya, we’re scratching for it," said Corser. "Yeah, we’re gonna be making future budget cuts. By the time you get ready to approve a budget in June for 2012-2013, we’re going to have a list of cuts for them to make in 2013-2014. We got no choice because we have a horizon that tells us costs are going to be increasing”
The county’s chief executive says the government will have to lay off at least 196 employees if it hopes to close its budget deficit. Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone says even more may have to go if the county wants to prevent additional cuts to public services.
"Believe me, I’d like to keep every employee that we have," said Stone. "But employees represent the biggest cost to this county and we have got to trim and add to our reserves. I think the number of layoffs in the CEO’s report pale in comparison to what I think may be needed."
Sponsored message
At their next public hearing, county officials will talk about the possible effects of additional layoffs and cuts to public safety and social services.
That public hearing is scheduled for 8:30 Thursday morning.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
