Steven Cuevas
May 05, 2009
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Riverside County has tentatively approved a new budget that could lead to hundreds of layoffs, closed fire stations, and the elimination of some public health programs. KPCC's Steven Cuevas says the county is trying to close a $130 million budget gap.
Steven Cuevas: Riverside County supervisors have asked all departments to cut their budgets by 10 percent. Most are trying to comply.
John Hawkins: We're dealing with nickels and dimes, and in fact we need to think of a penny mentality so we keep the county afloat.
Cuevas: County fire chief John Hawkins says he's prepared to lay off firefighters if he has to. But because he didn't want to needlessly worry people, Hawkins declined to identify which seven fire stations the county might shut down.
Riverside County's district attorney's office and sheriff's department are resisting proposed budget cuts that could spur hundreds of layoffs. Sheriff Stan Sniff and DA Rod Pacheco say the reductions would directly affect public safety.
Bob Buster: I tire frankly of hearing this over and over again, because I sit here and know it's not true!
Cuevas: Bob Buster was in the majority of supervisors who blasted the sheriff and district attorney.
Buster: We can't go along with these old political maneuverings and so forth. The situation deserves leaders in here in our departments that can rise above that.
Cuevas: Supervisors voted 4-to-1 in favor of offering early retirement to some employees in the district attorney's office. The sheriff's department is also under pressure to devise a staggered retirement plan. That could offset hundreds of possible layoffs. County supervisors plan to approve a final budget next month.
