August 6, 1969 (12 pages)

topnadats Seer ige gee = ae oe _=*>" 2 The Nevada County Nugget Wednesday, August 6, 1969 Tax rate to be iA Certainly no higher A tax rate at the same level or lower than last year's seems to be set to finance Nevada county government operations in 1969-70, The rate could be reduced five cents if the board of supervisors wants to "cut, trim and squeeze" that much, according to figures presented by Auditor John Trauner. po. ccoceenMe: Nevadal County Raintall Gauge} NEVADA CITY Max Min R July 30 92 51 July 31 93 46 Aug. 1 93. 46 Aug. 2 93 46 Aug. 3 95 49 Aug. 4 OO 2.51 Aug. 5 91 44 Rainfall to date .02 Rainfall last year 10 GRASS VALLEY Max Min R July 30 91 57 July 31 93 54 Aug. 1 97 53 Aug. 2 96 58 Aug. 3 99 58 Aug. 4 102 59 Aug. 5 94 52 Rainfall to date 01 Rainfall last year .01 WANT AUS: BCET RESULTS J NEVADA COUNTY NUG PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO, 301 Broad Street, Nevada City, Ca. 95959 Telephone 265-2471 Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California, Adjudicated a legal newspaperofgeneral circu* lation by the NevadaCounty Superior Court, Juce 3, 1960. Deéree No, 12, 406, Subscription Rates: one year, $3.00; two years, $5.00, “board members than current $2.48 However, that sizeable a decrease would slice into the money available to pay for minor road maintenance that invariably crops up during a year. Consequently, the supervisors talked about keeping the tax rate pretty constant--certainly no higher than the $2.48 per $100 of assessed valuation levied this year, Trauner presented several ' schedules to show what could be done, All would require tax rates higher than $2.48 except one--and consequently that was the only one the board considered very seriously, indicating their intent not to raise the rate. That schedule would allow the county a $2.43 rate if lieu revenues totaling $100,000 from the state are diverted to the general fund instead of being placed in the road fund as is done most years.To get the rate down, the schedule also envisions trimming the reserve back to $125,000. During preliminary budget: sessions, it was put $100,000 higher. And, because legislation has not been passed in Sacramento, $150,000 can be cut from the preliminary budget for welfare. That money had been budgeted in anticipation of programs which apparently will not happen this year, This final $150,000 reduction almost matches the $155,000 which must ‘be added to the preliminary budget to finance the average 10 per cent salary increases which went into effect on July 1, The only question raised by about this schedule concerned diverting in lieu funds from the road department, It was indicated that some of the $100,000 might be restored by keeping the tax rate at $2.48, illustrating one of the paradoxes of county government politics. Supervisors are under constant pressure to keep the tax rate down, but have almost as much pressure to accomplish minor repairs on roads. The board also spent the afternoon looking over department budgets ‘one last time and made some more dollar savings which presumably can be diverted to road use. @ During this session, an additional $30,610 was cut from the 6.7-million budget package, and 9,232 was added. This left a net reduction forthe day's work of more han $20,000, not counting the reserve and welfare decreases. A few capital outlay. items were allowed, but a few others were not, Capital outlay was the main target of board budget cutting at the preliminary sessions. This time the board relented and allowed the tax collector $866 to replace a 30-year-old piece of machinery andthe county clerk $250 for an adding machine; the district attorney was granted $636 to buy dictation equipment, but was refused $1,200 to rent a Friden brand typewriter which tyles individual letters automatically using “ve = Board again changes e same pay of GV constable — a tape punch process. (The system is similar to that used to set this story for The Union's cold type composition—offset . printing production). The supervisors increased their own budget $1,792 to put a half time girl on the payroll full time and allowed $2,750 for temporary salaries in the Nevada Justice Court budget. This was overlooked earlier. Building maintenance, which was cut drastically earlier, received another $1,474 in items that Supt. Walter N. McCormack was able to justify to the board's satisfaction. And, because of another change in policy (see other story), the Grass Valley constable's budget was increased $1,199. The Truckee constable's budget was decreased $2,950, however, _ Two items provided most of the $30,000 in new decreases. The Overall Economic Development Plan budget was sliced $15,660 on the anticipation that the new district will handle some of this work. Supervisor Dean Lawrence felt the OEDP executive board should have. been consulted, noting that Supervisors Willie Curran and William Thomas were strongly for that point during the episode in which the previous OEDP board was fired. OEDP Chairman Roy McDowell was in the audience and agreed that "we should know what is going on" but added that he feels the reduction is proper. The board approved this reduction on the condition that the executive committee approve it. If that committee disapproves, the board will change its action next week,The other reduction was $12,000 in the recreation budget, money that has been there for two years to finance a district if one is formed, However, Trauner pointed out that the election to have a district won't be held until next June, ~ The procedure of paying Grass Valley's constable was changed again by the board .of supervisors this week, but the intent remained the same--to end the system whereby the constable keeps fees. This time, the board was more direct in its action, The Grass Valley constable, and also his Truckee counterpart, will not be allowed to keep fees any longer; that money will go into the county's general fund. Constables have been the last remaining county officials allowed to keep fees. The two men will be paid a salary of $1,200 a year, which itself is a considerable reduction from their past pay. Earlier, the supervisors had cut Grass Valley Constable Elton Williams' salary to $1 a year, thinking he might then quit and the work could be turned over to the sheriff's office. However, when that budget came up for final approval Tuesday, Supervisors Dean Lawrence and Ralph Buchanan had second thoughts. Both wondered if it might not cost more to have deputies do the civil processing than continue having the constable do it, Sheriff Wayne Brown said this is difficult to determine, since it is not known how many civil papers Williams serves, Since the constable collects and keeps the fees, the county has no accounting of how much he makes from this source. Brown added that "it's not costing extra to do the Nevada Judicial District; we have ab-sorbed this." — The supervisors ned the processing of civil s from Nevada Judicial District over to the sheriff's office two years ago. Supervisor William Thomas, who with Chairman Lou Hartman, most strongly. pushed for the. change, noted that the county would have the advantage of addee’ income from the fees if there were any additional costs to offset. Thomas also contended that because of the fees and 35 cents a mile he can charge for serving papers "there is a good indication this constable is willing. to do this work for $1 a year." After the board's previous action, Williams said he would not. resign and asked in a letter to the board Tuesday that his original budget request be restored so his department would not be "hamstrung." Williams' letter .contended that a "preponderance" of people in the judicial.district support him, : "I feel as if there is some objection to the constable and the ordinance or something, but it has not been discussed frankly with me,"" Mrs, Lawrence said, Hartman added "I contend he is making enough through mileage and serving papers, It isn't necessary to pay $3,700a year," referring to Williams‘ previous salary.. \ ; "He might be holding onto the job for pride, not money, Mrs. Lawrence said. Then, Auditor John Trauner noted that "you could put the constable on salary and make him repay fees." That prompted a motion by ‘Thomas that the constable be paid $1,200 a year and all fees: go to the county. The constable would retain the mileage he is allowed to collect. "T think. that is a little capricious," Mrs, Lawrence said, referring to the $1,200 amount of pay. She earlier indicated agreement with the principle of changing from a fee to a pure salary system, "That is what I think is the right salary for what I have determined to be the amount of time he puts into the job," Thomas replied. The vote to change the system was approved 4-1 with Mrs, Lawrence voting no, Reservist of year named THE GARY SCHINDHELM award for reservist of the year in the Aiki unit was presented to Engineman Second Class John H, Clark of Fair Oaks, by Reserve Capt. Bob paen Theaward was established this year in honor of the late Gary Schindhelm of Grass Valley whose * fatal injury last October was a great loss to the reserve division as well as his family. The award, an anchor mounted on a plaque, will be presented each to the outstanding reservist. year by the Auburn Navy League

topnadats Seer ige gee = ae oe _=*>" 2 The Nevada County Nugget Wednesday, August 6, 1969 Tax rate to be iA Certainly no higher A tax rate at the same level or lower than last year's seems to be set to finance Nevada county government operations in 1969-70, The rate could be reduced five cents if the board of supervisors wants to "cut, trim and squeeze" that much, according to figures presented by Auditor John Trauner. po. ccoceenMe: Nevadal County Raintall Gauge} NEVADA CITY Max Min R July 30 92 51 July 31 93 46 Aug. 1 93. 46 Aug. 2 93 46 Aug. 3 95 49 Aug. 4 OO 2.51 Aug. 5 91 44 Rainfall to date .02 Rainfall last year 10 GRASS VALLEY Max Min R July 30 91 57 July 31 93 54 Aug. 1 97 53 Aug. 2 96 58 Aug. 3 99 58 Aug. 4 102 59 Aug. 5 94 52 Rainfall to date 01 Rainfall last year .01 WANT AUS: BCET RESULTS J NEVADA COUNTY NUG PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO, 301 Broad Street, Nevada City, Ca. 95959 Telephone 265-2471 Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California, Adjudicated a legal newspaperofgeneral circu* lation by the NevadaCounty Superior Court, Juce 3, 1960. Deéree No, 12, 406, Subscription Rates: one year, $3.00; two years, $5.00, “board members than current $2.48 However, that sizeable a decrease would slice into the money available to pay for minor road maintenance that invariably crops up during a year. Consequently, the supervisors talked about keeping the tax rate pretty constant--certainly no higher than the $2.48 per $100 of assessed valuation levied this year, Trauner presented several ' schedules to show what could be done, All would require tax rates higher than $2.48 except one--and consequently that was the only one the board considered very seriously, indicating their intent not to raise the rate. That schedule would allow the county a $2.43 rate if lieu revenues totaling $100,000 from the state are diverted to the general fund instead of being placed in the road fund as is done most years.To get the rate down, the schedule also envisions trimming the reserve back to $125,000. During preliminary budget: sessions, it was put $100,000 higher. And, because legislation has not been passed in Sacramento, $150,000 can be cut from the preliminary budget for welfare. That money had been budgeted in anticipation of programs which apparently will not happen this year, This final $150,000 reduction almost matches the $155,000 which must ‘be added to the preliminary budget to finance the average 10 per cent salary increases which went into effect on July 1, The only question raised by about this schedule concerned diverting in lieu funds from the road department, It was indicated that some of the $100,000 might be restored by keeping the tax rate at $2.48, illustrating one of the paradoxes of county government politics. Supervisors are under constant pressure to keep the tax rate down, but have almost as much pressure to accomplish minor repairs on roads. The board also spent the afternoon looking over department budgets ‘one last time and made some more dollar savings which presumably can be diverted to road use. @ During this session, an additional $30,610 was cut from the 6.7-million budget package, and 9,232 was added. This left a net reduction forthe day's work of more han $20,000, not counting the reserve and welfare decreases. A few capital outlay. items were allowed, but a few others were not, Capital outlay was the main target of board budget cutting at the preliminary sessions. This time the board relented and allowed the tax collector $866 to replace a 30-year-old piece of machinery andthe county clerk $250 for an adding machine; the district attorney was granted $636 to buy dictation equipment, but was refused $1,200 to rent a Friden brand typewriter which tyles individual letters automatically using “ve = Board again changes e same pay of GV constable — a tape punch process. (The system is similar to that used to set this story for The Union's cold type composition—offset . printing production). The supervisors increased their own budget $1,792 to put a half time girl on the payroll full time and allowed $2,750 for

temporary salaries in the Nevada Justice Court budget. This was overlooked earlier. Building maintenance, which was cut drastically earlier, received another $1,474 in items that Supt. Walter N. McCormack was able to justify to the board's satisfaction. And, because of another change in policy (see other story), the Grass Valley constable's budget was increased $1,199. The Truckee constable's budget was decreased $2,950, however, _ Two items provided most of the $30,000 in new decreases. The Overall Economic Development Plan budget was sliced $15,660 on the anticipation that the new district will handle some of this work. Supervisor Dean Lawrence felt the OEDP executive board should have. been consulted, noting that Supervisors Willie Curran and William Thomas were strongly for that point during the episode in which the previous OEDP board was fired. OEDP Chairman Roy McDowell was in the audience and agreed that "we should know what is going on" but added that he feels the reduction is proper. The board approved this reduction on the condition that the executive committee approve it. If that committee disapproves, the board will change its action next week,The other reduction was $12,000 in the recreation budget, money that has been there for two years to finance a district if one is formed, However, Trauner pointed out that the election to have a district won't be held until next June, ~ The procedure of paying Grass Valley's constable was changed again by the board .of supervisors this week, but the intent remained the same--to end the system whereby the constable keeps fees. This time, the board was more direct in its action, The Grass Valley constable, and also his Truckee counterpart, will not be allowed to keep fees any longer; that money will go into the county's general fund. Constables have been the last remaining county officials allowed to keep fees. The two men will be paid a salary of $1,200 a year, which itself is a considerable reduction from their past pay. Earlier, the supervisors had cut Grass Valley Constable Elton Williams' salary to $1 a year, thinking he might then quit and the work could be turned over to the sheriff's office. However, when that budget came up for final approval Tuesday, Supervisors Dean Lawrence and Ralph Buchanan had second thoughts. Both wondered if it might not cost more to have deputies do the civil processing than continue having the constable do it, Sheriff Wayne Brown said this is difficult to determine, since it is not known how many civil papers Williams serves, Since the constable collects and keeps the fees, the county has no accounting of how much he makes from this source. Brown added that "it's not costing extra to do the Nevada Judicial District; we have ab-sorbed this." — The supervisors ned the processing of civil s from Nevada Judicial District over to the sheriff's office two years ago. Supervisor William Thomas, who with Chairman Lou Hartman, most strongly. pushed for the. change, noted that the county would have the advantage of addee’ income from the fees if there were any additional costs to offset. Thomas also contended that because of the fees and 35 cents a mile he can charge for serving papers "there is a good indication this constable is willing. to do this work for $1 a year." After the board's previous action, Williams said he would not. resign and asked in a letter to the board Tuesday that his original budget request be restored so his department would not be "hamstrung." Williams' letter .contended that a "preponderance" of people in the judicial.district support him, : "I feel as if there is some objection to the constable and the ordinance or something, but it has not been discussed frankly with me,"" Mrs, Lawrence said, Hartman added "I contend he is making enough through mileage and serving papers, It isn't necessary to pay $3,700a year," referring to Williams‘ previous salary... \ ; "He might be holding onto the job for pride, not money, Mrs. Lawrence said. Then, Auditor John Trauner noted that "you could put the constable on salary and make him repay fees." That prompted a motion by ‘Thomas that the constable be paid $1,200 a year and all fees: go to the county. The constable would retain the mileage he is allowed to collect. "T think. that is a little capricious," Mrs, Lawrence said, referring to the $1,200 amount of pay. She earlier indicated agreement with the principle of changing from a fee to a pure salary system, "That is what I think is the right salary for what I have determined to be the amount of time he puts into the job," Thomas replied. The vote to change the system was approved 4-1 with Mrs, Lawrence voting no, Reservist of year named THE GARY SCHINDHELM award for reservist of the year in the Aiki unit was presented to Engineman Second Class John H, Clark of Fair Oaks, by Reserve Capt. Bob paen Theaward was established this year in honor of the late Gary Schindhelm of Grass Valley whose * fatal injury last October was a great loss to the reserve division as well as his family. The award, an anchor mounted on a plaque, will be presented each to the outstanding reservist. year by the Auburn Navy League