Riverside County Officials Say Job Cuts Inevitable

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors reviewed its options Tuesday on how to shrink a government facing a $131 million shortfall for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

“There’s not going to be an entity in county government that isn’t going to suffer some reduction,” said John Benoit, a supervisor.

“I don’t like it,” Anne Saner, a resident of Thousand Palms.

Renee Schauv, a resident of Bermuda Dunes, said the cuts are “horrible.”

“I think it’s sad that we have to hear stuff like that,” said Tyler Young, a resident of Bermuda Dunes.

Supervisor Benoit said the county could reduce its staff by as many as 400 workers.

“We know that we’re going to have at least a $100 million – maybe $120 million shortfall between what we would spend if we continue business as is today,” he explained.

“What’s hurting us right now is our revenues,” said Ignacio Otero, a deputy chief of the Cal Fire Riverside County Fire Department. “The structure fire tax, which is property tax are way down, and that’s part of our funding process.”

Cal Fire is already operating on bare bones.

“We don’t really have anywhere else to cut,” said Otero.

But, according to the Board of Supervisors, they may have no other choice.

“We have asked the county agencies to give us proposals that help us understand what a 3 or 10 percent cut in public safety would look like or what a 10 or 25 percent cut to each agency would look like,” said Benoit.

Officials say more reductions could force Cal Fire to close two fire stations in unincorporated communities throughout the Coachella Valley, such as Mecca, North Palm Springs, Thermal and Thousand Palms.

The sheriff’s department will also take a hit.

“[All] of the county, outside of the cities, are probably going to see a reduction in total patrol,” said Benoit. “It will hopefully be small.”

“Schools, teachers, and then police – [you shoud not] cut there.”

“My stepfather was a firefighter and a cop, and I think it’s horrible,” said Schauv.

“Obviously, it’s difficult,” said Otero. “But, at the same time, we kind of go through this; seems like the last couple of years.”

According to the county, without the proposed cuts, it will suffer a $131 million deficit. Job cuts, combined with a dip into the reserves, will keep the county functional.

“In the area of health and safety, for instance, where we might have offered a free clinic in several places five days a week, we’re probably going to see those go to three or four days a week,” said Benoit.

The cuts agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday are just preliminary. Officials say those numbers could increase or decrease, depending on the budget Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announces in May.