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Mariposa County Budget Talks 2007

At last Wednesday's, September 12, 2007 Budget discussion the Sixth Street Cinema (Rural Media Arts Center) and Yosemite Renaissance budget was up for discussion. Mariposa County CAO, Rick Benson recommended that 6th Street receive an additional $5000 on top of the $25,000 they have just requested and received and Yosemite Renaissance receive $10,000.
Supervisor Bob Pickard wanted to give 6th Street and additional $5000 with Supervisor Dianne Fritz agreeing with that amount. Supervisor Brad Aborn wanted to give the Yosemite Renaissance an additional $5000. While Supervisor Janet Bibby wanted no additional funds to go to either organization. Supervisor Lyle Turpin wanted both organizations to receive $2,500 apiece in total dollars.
Both organizations had originally requested that they would like $20,000. After much back and forth, Brad Aborn agreed that if the Yosemite Renaissance was to get a total of $15,000 that he would vote to give 6th Street a total of $10,000 on top of the $25,000 they had already recieved. With Supervisors Bob Pickard and Dianne Fritz agreeing to that deal it went to vote, where it passed with Supervisors Janet Bibby and Lyle Turpin opposing.

Also the Mariposa Arts Council had a $3000 bump up in funding from last year as that budget was increased to $51,000. Supervisor Janet Bibby wanted to leave the funding at last years level but  was outvoted 4-1.

Bob Brown, District Attorney for Mariposa County gave a grim assessment of his department as Mariposa County is behind in wages compared to other counties, and he is afraid that his personnel will leave Mariposa for those higher wages. He wants to change the level of his current D.A.'s from level three to fours to give them a pay boost. Those two positions with benefits would cost the county an additional $30,000 a year. Plus he would like another full time Level Four D.A, costing the county about a $150,000 a year total including the $30,000 for the other Level Fours.

Mariposa County Fire also received an increase of 56% in funding, bringing the department up to $1,047,000 up from $672,000 last year. Fire Chief Jim Wilson said that Maintenance costs have skyrocketed  from $80,000 to $240,000 last year.

 

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