This story is a follow up to our budget story post of February 1, and in this story Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan has reminded us of the importance of the Parkway.
Supervisor Susan Peters, has also recently spoken up for the Parkway as a priority. Here is what we wrote in our January Newsletter (available to ARPPS members).
"In the January 2006 issue of Inside Arden, Supervisor Susan Peters also indicated her support of this concept, [establishing a Joint Powers Authority for the Parkway] beginning her “Year in Review” Article with her agenda for the Parkway, which is reproduced in full here."
“Protecting the American River Parkway”
“The American River Parkway is a unique resource for our community, providing recreational activity and scenic natural beauty that can be enjoyed by everyone.
“This budget year, the Board of Supervisors increased the parkway’s current funding by an additional $450,000. Notwithstanding that increase, it is vital to pursue institutional changes to ensure financial stability. One possible approach is the creation of a joint powers authority with the cities that border the river to share in the parkway’s administration and upkeep.
“During 2005, I met with members of those city councils: reaction generally was positive. I will continue to advance the proposal this year. As the concept is fleshed out, the devil will be in the details, but I hope an agreement can be crafted to protect the values of the parkway plan as well as provide a more diversified revenue stream from several jurisdictions.”
by Supervisor Susan Peters, Inside the County, Inside Arden Newspaper: January 2006, (Page 18)
Here is an excerpt from the February 1st article in the Bee.
County delays action on retiree health subsidy
By Judy Lin -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, February 1, 2006
"Sacramento County retirees will have to wait until Feb. 7 to find out whether the Board of Supervisors will continue supplementing their health insurance premiums one more year.
"The five-member board on Tuesday postponed a vote on renewing the benefit until Supervisor Roger Dickinson returns from Washington, D.C. He is presumed to be the tie-breaking vote.
"It'll be three to two, that's how I see it," said Kiyoshi Adachi, president of the Sacramento County Retired Employees Association.
"The board has to decide whether to continue a supplement for the county's 5,700 qualified retirees at an estimated cost of $14 million amid projected budget deficits. The county is expected to tap into reserves to balance next year's budget, and it faces a $40.6 million deficit for fiscal year 2007-08.
"County staff has proposed to continue the benefit but slowly phase the program out for younger and future workers under a "Rule of 60" formula that calculates a worker's age and years of service.
"Supervisor Illa Collin called it a good compromise that takes care of employees while not overburdening taxpayers.
"Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan disagreed, saying the proposal doesn't go far enough.
"This represents $7 million in general fund dollars. There was once a proposal to close the American River Parkway and the annual cost of maintaining that parkway is just about equal to that $7 million," she said. "
With the increased focus on the Parkway from these two supervisors, perhaps we can expect better from the county's stewardship in the future.
We applaud their efforts, and look forward to a majority of the board joining them.
