Sonora, CA — While some votes, such as those regarding fee increases, are set to take place later this month, the more substantial budget decisions for Tuolumne County are expected after the start of the new year. This is when incoming board members Steve Griefer and Mike Holland will take office, joining current supervisors Jaron Brandon, Ryan Campbell, and Anaiah Kirk.
The county is anticipated to face staff and service reductions in the upcoming year due to the defeat of Measure Z, the expiration of federal fire grants, and other financial challenges. In light of these budgetary issues, the supervisors voted today to schedule their annual budget workshop for January 7-8, shortly after the new members are sworn in and outgoing supervisors Kathleen Haff and David Goldemberg exit the board. This session will take place a bit earlier than usual—typically scheduled for February or March—so that the county can begin addressing its financial challenges sooner.
Supervisors Anaiah Kirk and Kathleen Haff voiced concerns about waiting until January to begin addressing the budget issues, suggesting that critical decisions should have been made by now. Kirk expressed that delaying the difficult decisions would only make them harder to address later. Haff, in agreement, pointed out that the current board had initially promised to make tough choices, but now those decisions would be deferred to the incoming members.
District Two Supervisor Ryan Campbell disagreed with Haff’s assertion, arguing that while some difficult decisions, such as fee increases, were already being addressed, more extensive cuts and restructuring would require additional time and effort that could not realistically be handled before the end of the month.
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During public comment, two local residents also urged the board to take action sooner rather than later to get the county’s finances back on track. Supervisor David Goldemberg concluded the discussion by stating that the new board members—Griefer and Holland—should have some input in shaping the budget’s direction. While some decisions could be made before the year’s end, he emphasized that the more difficult choices should be made collectively by the full board, including the new members, in January.
The process of addressing the county’s fiscal challenges, which may involve organizational changes and service reductions, will begin in earnest once the new board members are in place next month.
