Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
November 5, 2008
4. Water Quality -
Ocean water testing stopped
County acts after state cuts the funds
By Tony Biasotti, staff
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Ocean water testing stopped this week in
The end of the ocean water testing — a county-run program funded by a state grant — was one of 12 sets of budget cuts approved by the board, totaling $990,000 of the county's $1.64 billion budget. Officials said all of the cuts are necessary because they reflect programs that aren't funded in this year's state budget.
County officials are bracing for even more cuts because
The cuts approved Tuesday will reduce the county's total employment by 29 full-time positions, from a work force of about 8,400. The cuts won't require any layoffs, because all of the jobs being cut are already vacant.
"It's no small feat that this is before us today without having to lay people off, because our departments have already done so much to rein in expenses," said county Executive Officer Marty Robinson.
Apart from beach water testing, other areas that were cut include the District Attorney's Office, which lost a prosecutor position; the Mental Health Department, which saw a 5.6 percent decrease in its state funding; and the Human Services Agency, which will shrink by 20 positions because of cuts in state funding for welfare programs.
The ocean water testing program is one that might actually be brought back soon. The California State Water Board is meeting this week and will consider new funding sources for the program.
Polly Barrowman, a water quality scientist with the nonprofit group Heal the Bay, urged the Board of Supervisors to delay its decision on the water testing program until it knows what the state board will do. County officials told her that if the state comes through with the money, the program can be reinstated immediately.
"It's one of our tourism goals in our county to have people come to our beaches, and we need to ensure they're clean," Supervisor Kathy Long said. "It's an important investment."
The supervisors all said they think the program is worthwhile, but they did not make an exception to their standing policy: If a county program relies on state grants, when the grants run out, the program has to end.
"The state makes these priorities and says, Let's cut the clean water program,' but it's the county where people will go to and say, Don't cut the clean water program,'" Supervisor Steve Bennett said. "This budget was approved by the California Legislature, and everybody who voted for this budget voted to cut the clean water program."#
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/nov/05/ocean-water-testing-stopped/
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