Sonoma County in crisis with Mike Chrystal and Eeve Lewis

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nineties with your host, Rich McGlinchy. Hi, everybody. Welcome to this. In addition of some account in the nineties, we'll be talking about a problem that you probably read a great deal about. I heard a lot about. That's the fiscal constraints that have been required by the

federal government by the state government and now by arts, Sonoma County government gonna talk to Mike Crystal was the assistant county administrator, and E. V. Lewis is our elected county clerk. Now, these folks have been working with this program, uh, mandatory furlough program, which will be

talking about right away, and it's a method to cut some of the money that the county must cut to make its budget balance. First of all, Mike, it's nice to have you both here. Nice to be baby next back. Um, this really is might say big

news these days because I've heard the public in various places talking about she was they're gonna caught all that money and give people time off. They're really trying. Teoh cut the budget. And that's good in a sense of the word. I mean, it's tough for us,

but it's good that people realize that their effort is being made. Mike, let's start off with you on this. What is the mandatory furlough program or the M T o? We'll empty. Oh, is a polite way of saying that most canny employees are going to take

off for a period of time in this case for this year, 40 hours without pay. They're not going to be paid it all for that 40. Our parents correct, Right? Um, why is it necessary personally county to initiate the empty oh program. I know because I

ask that because just recently we indicated the county reduced its budget by about $11 million. I think already released. That's what I read in your county news. Another recently. If that's the case, why is it necessary for the Mtolo program to be brought about? Why? The

reason is, as as you've indicated earlier, as everybody knows, we're in the midst of on economic recession, there have been cutbacks at the state level. Those cutbacks have affected county government significantly. As a matter of fact, we have had to reduce our budget. This year we

were facing a deficit of over $13 million. The empty oh program is, ah, method by which we can cover a significant portion of that deficit. All right, what estimated savings will be generated by the Intel program and approximately how many layoffs will that avoid? Our current

estimate is that we will save approximately 1 million $750,000 by implementing the program. What this means in terms of mitigating layoffs is 60 to 75. People will not lose their jobs. That's great. That is good. Yeah. Now I know we'll be talking about this later on

in here, but with this money, the week off without pay without will be taken out at one time in terms of the employeespaychecks. No, it'll be spread over the balance of the fiscal year. Okay. All right. Um, all right. What is the December fertile of that

and how it work? The December furlough is that the vehicle that we're using to implement the major portion of our empty oh program. Essentially, it means that the majority of county facilities county employees will be off of work. The facilities will be shut down from December

24th through the third of January, right through the 30 general. So essentially, county government, except for, uh, functions that are required by health and safety will be shut down. All right, Uh, the third of January. When did you swear in the new supervisor? Okay, let's get

ready. You know, you're working very closely with Mike and this are all county employees and function participating in the fertile program. If they are all of them. The employee organizations, the management organizations, the department heads, even the elected department heads like myself, Um, the board of

supervisors, members, even the judges. So it's pretty well widespread. It will involve all of those different groups in some way or the other, and all county functions in some way or other. Most of them during that one week. Okay, I want thrown aside. Your this must

have been kind of a soul searching idea to come up with this idea. It's drastic, but it will. It will save a tremendous amount of money and everybody was sharing it with when this was being formulated. What was the thinking about this recall? Is the meetings

when they decided to do this? Well, I think everybody looked upon it as one way of mitigating layoffs. And I think both labor and management felt that it was in their best interest. The county save money. The employees didn't get laid off. It was a very

sort of collaborative approach to solving a problem. Yeah, so we say permanent employees jobs wherever we could. Absolutely. We can't. Right. Um, TV have you the county clerk when you operating the county clerks office and the legal part of their the election Department? That Board of

Supervisors, I want the public be inconvenience quite a bit by this December furlough to some degree. Yes, they will be. County government is not fat. in the sense that we don't have a lot of extra people and extra positions available, and we don't necessarily we're not

able necessarily to provide everything we'd like to be able to provide to the general public. Being closed for a week is definitely gonna inconvenience some people. Um, obviously, we don't have a lot of choices if we want to save the money. And we're in a situation

where we need to save the money and balance the budget well as an aside. And it seems here, the the county who comes I had come up with this idea and the employees were going along with working a week without pay that it's up to the

rest of us, the public to understand that and accept whatever small inconveniences involved because the savings are very substantial. You pointed out almost $2 million Mike. One of the other things that this particular week is probably of all the weeks that we do work is the

quietest week, the slowest week. I'm not saying that it's it's dead, but it is that probably the best week we could have chosen. It is also the week that a great many private businesses also closed down. So I think more the public's gonna be aware of

the fact that some of the services they're used to relying on us for may not be available. Um, how you respond to the complaints that you're sure to get about the inconvenience involved in any given area? Well, obviously, as much publicity as we can do in

advance, um, the more we can feel those complaints and before they actually have an impact, that's one of the things we want to do is to be able to make people very well aware of it. We also want to be able to meet with individual groups

if necessary, to let to try to work out whatever the issue is. That's leading to the complaint. Individual departments will handle them differently, depending on what kind of complaint they receive. Oh, like once you get in the side and this may be throwing your curve a

bit, how many employees do we have? About over 4000 over four counts, okay. And everybody will be affected short of equally by this whole thing. That's correct. Does that include the the administrative level bosses to absolutely Yeah. Okay, And didn't I see something about through you

on one of the board again just recently? About Mr Court judges actually offering Teoh what return some of their earnings or something? That's exactly it is in the All of the groups that work for the county of cinema have participated in some way or other, including

the judges, including the board members, including the administrative people, the department heads as well as the employee groups. So it's a matter of kind of sharing the pain. You two have been working with us setting up this mandatory time off or monetary furlough. Um, how is

out? What's the feeling? Been among the management to people have had to make these decisions that this was the only way to know. Well, this was the fairest way to go first. Yeah, yeah, I think that the management group certainly felt that they had a leadership

obligation to show that they realized how serious the financial situation for the County Waas, and they felt an obligation to to take a stand indicating that they needed to share in some of the some of the decisions that had a financial impact on those employees. Modesty

forbids me from saying this program. But what were you doing to publicize the December furlough and provide advanced morning to the public? What else over about this program had to get that we're doing a fairly large amount of publicity in advance. We're gonna be doing public

service announcements. We're gonna be dealing with the press and doing a lot of news releases We have individual departments will be notifying their individual constituencies through letters or phone calls or possibly newsletters or meetings. In some cases, we will be doing mailings that will include notification.

For instance, our sample ballots for the November election will include a very vivid sticker that tells people that most county offices will be closed during the December recess, and that'll go out to about 250,000 people in the county. Um, other departments will be using some of

those to put on their outgoing mail so that we get the word out. That way we will be putting up signs. We'll be doing a wide variety of that kind of publicity starting very soon so that by the time December 24th rolls around, it shouldn't be

a surprise to anyone Yeah. You know, another thing that I have heard among the employees at the county some of welcome this idea. I mean, I don't think anybody left you may be in the week without pay, but they really welcome the idea of this time

off during that period of time. And, uh, some, if they were going to take it, might have had to take it without any way. But I have heard this. I mean, I'm not saying it's a common thought, but I've certainly heard a lot of employees that

welcome in the idea of something like attendee period in there with weekends considered that they will not get work. I think what I'm hearing is that if you have to take a pay cut like this, this is a nice way. Yeah. Nicer way to do it

than some others. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's so. He always puts things more succinctly than I do. Anyway, that's why assistant E v. Are you taking any other steps to prepare for the December furlough period over and above? Just notifying the general public were also doing

things like notifying other governmental agencies, other counties, other the federal government the state government, those types of organizations so that they don't make referrals to us. They were aware of the fact that we're closed. We will be contacting various delivery services like the post office in

UPS and Federal Express and people who are selling things to the county and would normally be delivering during that time to let them know in advance. We will be attempting to change a lot of our recordings when somebody calls into the county. There are some agencies,

for instance, that have recorded information. We will include the closure information on as much of that as we can. We're also obviously doing making provision for any kind of emergencies that may come up with with telephone numbers that would be available in case somebody needed it.

So we are taking as many steps as we possibly can to try Teoh. Either let people know in advance, make arrangements that there's going to be problems, find alternative locations where they might be able to pick up some of the services. For instance, certain limited services

can be gotten from other locations. Passports. Someone can go to the main post office downtown instead of coming to the county clerks office will make certain that information is available. Marriage licenses that can actually go to other counties if they need to that kind of thing.

We will be doing us much in advance as possible. I could hear some of the new voicemail now you know you have reached the county government were closed this week, but we really have high hopes of opening again next week. If the state will just leave

us alone. Mike, let's get back to you. One of the things that had to be very, very important was getting the acquisition or not the acquiescence, if you will, of the employees in the unions and that sort of thing to the the idea in general. How

did the unions and county manifested consensus on this approach to generate that almost $2 million in savings? It was It was a very process. The county administrator and several of our key department heads went to the bargaining table with all of our bargaining units, and I

believe there are eight or nine separate unions units representing all the county employees at one time jointly and approach the budget deficit and our desire, Teoh get some significant contribution out of our employees on what we sort of describe is a collaborative interest basis. These air,

our interests, these air, your interests and we determine that it was in everybody's best interest to come up with the program that we did the furlough program. Well, it was. I think we maybe should stop just that this moment and commend the unions or the people

involved for a responsible response. Teoh a very serious problem in the manner in which we are not going to lose very many, if any, permanent positions. Yeah, I very much would like to commend you unions. They didn't have to do this. They have, in a sense,

airtight contracts. They said, should they could have said no. But instead they agreed to amend all of their contracts to incorporate the empty oh program. Yeah, and we commend you for that. All the members of the union teams my crystal evey. Lewis and I were gonna

come back in just a moment. We're going to talk more about the mandatory furlough program, which, in which one, all of the county employees some 4000 or more. We'll take one week off without pay during Christmas holidays. To help us through this tough fiscal time, we'll

be back right after this post. She'll be all right. Windows were rolled down and will only be gone a few minutes. They'll be fine in the wild. Cats know how to fend for themselves. Every day in Sonoma County, precious life becomes the target of neglect, abuse

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can prevent HIV. Call 1 803 4 to AIDS. Welcome back to this edition of Sonoma County in the nineties were talking about the December furlough, the mandatory time off program which the county has agreed on in which some 4000 employees will take a week off at

Christmas without pay. And they will do this in order to help the county balance its budget. It was not the thing they had to do, but my crystal told us just before the break there was something the unions, along with the county, realizing this was a

way to do it, would be the least harmful way and would accomplish the savings of almost $2 million. Mike, one of things I want to ask his former leftist. What about our 24 hour institutions? Now will they be effective? They will be affected and they will

participate in the program, but in a somewhat different manner than the rest of the our employees. The 24 hour institutions such as the jail and the juvenile Hall and our water systems and our hospital will be open that we will have some opportunity to close some

nonessential functions and reduced down in some cases, to skeleton crews. The employees who work in these institutions during the furlough period will take time off at other time during the year, so they'll all be contributing their 40 hours, but they will be working to maintain essential

services during the furlough. The December furlough Because I have heard since we have announced this or since it's been rumored, became official. The public people, members of the public college phrases have wondered about the sheriff's office. They wondered about fire services. Certainly dry year we've had

up until now. Excuse me. And they're also wondering about hospital. So now what you're saying is that we will sustained those things to the degree we must on or example in the same little the emergency room will be open. Patient services will be maintained, but administration

will be shut down. Okay. All right. Um, it would be any other exceptions to this whole thing. There will be some. They will be few and far between. Our intent is to get the furlough taken care of as much as possible during December January. But the

kinds of exceptions that we have to make provision for are situations where we have obligations. Health and safety obligations are legal requirements. The courts will be open on a skeleton basis. The district attorney, the public defender obviously are gonna be available toe to serve the courts.

And there will be other situations Where? The airport, for example. I mean, obviously the airport is gonna be open working with skeleton crew and where we have an obligation will maintain that obligation. No, this is throwing you a curve again. I'm not sure what you've done

about this. The fairgrounds itself has a lot of activities going on. We'll continue where we have a contractual obligation. Where somebody has signed a contract to run an event at the fairy. It will continue, but fair administration will shut down and the overall fairgrounds will be

used significantly less than it would have under normal circumstances. You know something else? We ought to be telling the audience right now. Why is this old necessary? Well, there's two or three reasons. One of them is that our federal government's not doing so well on its

handling of its money. Uh, deficit is I can't even count that high. The state has had a tremendous drop in income and was faced with a 10 or 12 or $13 billion deficit and of course, passed it on to the county. And this is why we

were had you cut. What have we cut? About 13 million Mike, that's correct. $13 million out of out of it out of a budget that in all sincerity was not a fat budget. It was a budget that was necessary to provide the people to provide you

with the services you need and want. So this, um, this really has trickled all the way down and we're feeling the bite now. Um, is the December furlough going to be an ongoing event? Might what we hope not. And the understanding we have with our employees

organizations is that should we propose to continue the furlough, we would have to negotiate that with them. But the intent right now is that it's It's a one time situation to balance our budget for fiscal year 92 93. And whatever happens next year will have toe

look at the furlough as a possibility at that time. Well, I'll ask you the question, Mike. I know I've talked to some acquaintances in Sacramento in the sacrament of government, and I know what they're feeling is. But does the county anticipate more financial difficulties? And during

this next fiscal year, Yes, we dio first of all, the $13 million that we cut this year is an ongoing reduction, so it's not a one time situation. We got that $13 million next year and every year into the future. In addition, it's our understanding that

that the state is from 3 to $5 billion in the hole for fiscal 93 94 we'll feel the effects of that. That would probably result in a five or $6 million cut for Sonoma County. So we think that the that the the reductions are here to

stay for the next few years until the economy turns around. That's what I was just thinking. That's what I heard and just talking with. Some people work with state departments that they did not foresee 1993 94 being a whole lot better. And if you echo that

same thought from what you know, TV back, you, um, are all county employees and functions participating in the furlough program. This is when we talked about earlier, but there's nobody that's been excluded. It all right? No. So everyone's participating in some way or the other. The

court system, for instance, is under both local county directive and state director. They serve both agencies so they may not participate the same way as everyone else does. But we are looking, for instance, right now at probably closing the clerks offices. So we're not processing documentation

but keeping limited courtrooms open to hear those kinds of hearings that are required by state law or or under the constitutional requirements. So even those agencies that are not strictly county agencies are participating in some way or the other. It's a very serious financial issue for

the county, and that includes all of us. So we're all taking part. We ask you that, almost that same question when I go. But I would you elaborate a little bit more what I was thinking. Terms of, um, what about such things as animal regulation? I

don't know if you want to know whoever wants to feel this, but, for instance, I know out our way we've had horses out on the road or something, that posing a hazard in the unincorporated area to motorists, are good people around there like that. Now when

we have someone, for instance, animal regulation, let's just take that. We have somebody on call for that sort of. Are you with minimal regulation would be one of the exceptions. Will have a skeleton crew will be providing services. Okay, you probably won't have the normal office

staff available, but you'll have people who can take care of the emergency types of needs. Yeah, they're So there's there's so many things here, Mike. And even, you know, the people have been through you. People rather have been through this and I commend you for for

all the hard work you put in coming up with these ideas and they are sound and they are the embarrasses. You said her your way to do this. But there's so many things that people I know what are watching this program right now we're talking about

like that, thinking your mental health, you're thinking of public health. You went to the hospital and how we're trying to keep the Embry necessary things, but not the administration of things that we can put off for a week. But I know a lot of people are

going to be concerned about and help and older people I know we're gonna be concerned, especially the ones that are low income. Where can I go up to the you know families, there was practice. Can I still go in here? Can I get my medicine? Can

I do this or that? And that's why I want you guys to let you guys deal of victories, gentlemen and women to discuss that a little bit more and to kind of put people's minds at rest. We're doing the very best that we can by stopping

the administration factor as much as we can. But leaving the vital services is that right? Well, if I could speak to that rich I I think there has to be a the distinction drawn between inconvenience. People are gonna be inconvenienced, and it's just unfortunate. That's what

we have to deal with in this economy. Distinguish between that and health and safety requirements. And And I would ask people that are watching this program if there is an issue of concern about a particular program that they're involved in and a service that there perhaps

worried that that is going to be cut off to call us. We think we've got all the bases covered. But if there's a situation where we have to make some exception where it's critical to try to service and we haven't provided for that. We certainly will

do it. All right, Mike, maybe we ought to do this. We didn't put this on this Me, But now I got a lot of people today. Program tonight will want a question. Maybe one or the other view. Do we have online that we can refer Teoh?

Should they call their administrators? Who did they call? I would ask him to call the county administrators office. It's 5 to 7 to 431 All right. And that's 5 to 7 to 431 And they could even call our office. And you can relay as much of

it is we can put out public information, incidentally, is 5 to 17 years for one and we will try to help any way we can. Um any. Is there also going to be a voluntary furlough program? So V t o. That would be right. Voluntary combo.

Now, how would that work? Yes, there is expected to be a voluntary time off program, and in addition to the mandatory, it's optional rather than mandatory. That's the difference. Everyone is not necessarily going toe have to participate in it. The idea is that because the cuts

that were made during the summer by the board to balance its budget, we're not as extensive as they need to be. Since the state budget came in with less county money than we had hoped to see, we're going to have to do more cutting. We're going

to save more money than we originally anticipated. In order to try to save some additional positions, employees are going to be given the option of trying to work out with their departments some additional unpaid time that could be taken between, um, the time the program started,

which was September 29th and the end of this current fiscal year, which is in June. The unions and subcommittee of the county management people got together and worked out the details so that we all approach it with the same guidelines. But departments will work out such

things as people perhaps being on limited service. Instead of working eight hours a day for pay, they may be working six hours a day for pay, or they may be taking alternate days off For that type of thing. It'll be an individual schedule worked out between

the department and the individual employees. We're just about out of time here, and I want to do to Mike. They should really call the county administrators office on this. I think writers than ours. So that number is 5 to 7 to 431 Now, there are those

of you I know you are going to want to know more about what might and even have said about this and certainly how effect Services County delivers to you on a regular basis. So call if you have a question like that. If we haven't explained these

things called 5 to 7, 2431 We're just about out of time. We're down to about 30 seconds. Thank you both for taking the time to come over here again. Michael Becoming over. Explain this because I think the the subject is very much in the public's mind

right now. I can tell this just by being out. They want to know. What are you doing? You're shutting everything down. I mean, will there be any law enforcement anything? So thank you very much for taking the time to tell everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, we've been

visiting with my crystal the assistant county administrator. Even Lewis, the elected county clerk, come Rich McGlinchey, host of your programs and only counting the nineties. We'll be back with you next week without remembers. The county government family are related agency till end tonight. Good luck, good,

healthy.