News Subscribe to Our Newsletter Sign up for Email Updates CGF In the News Press Inquiries Past Articles Calendar			The Mercury News August 6, 2003   County must cut millions more By Karen de Sá The Santa Clara County supervisors have "used a  meat cleaver" and "bled a turnip," and there is more hacking and wringing  ahead of them. Tens of millions of dollars still need to be cut from programs  providing health care, public safety and parklands, following passage  of the state budget. Acting county executive Pete Kutras delivered the discouraging news Tuesday  that an additional $30 million will have to be removed from this year's  budget, which already reflects $156 million in cuts. At the same time they are trying to keep from drowning in red ink, the  supervisors are searching for a permanent county executive who may, or  may not, be Kutras. The former assistant executive is among five candidates vying to manage  Northern California's most populous county on a permanent basis. The board  will narrow the field to two or three people after daylong interviews  Tuesday. County officials say two of the five are from out of state, and  one candidate is a woman. Their identities are being tightly protected. "We're looking for someone who knows how to manage  us out of the tightest fiscal situation I've seen since 1983," Supervisor  Liz Kniss said. With spending this restricted, she added, "we're talking  about wringing the last vestiges out of departments, services and right  out of our employees." The county passed its $3.3 billion budget in June.  Kutras is now recommending that additional cuts be considered before an  Oct. 7 final vote. But he acknowledged the difficulty of figuring out  exactly what part of the bone to shave. In addition to state cuts, a "sluggish  local economy" and disappointing income from property taxes have contributed  to the problem. While some departments and programs such as in-home health care, child  support and crime lab services face no reductions, others are getting  hit hard. County managers propose that public health programs be reduced  by an additional 8 percent and social services by 7 percent. Other departments,  like planning, have been "debilitated" due to attrition, hiring freezes  and layoffs. Although decisions have to be made in a hurry to brace for  further shortfalls predicted for 2004 and 2005, some alternatives to the  meat cleaver approach are circulating. Supervisor Jim Beall proposes asking  departments to absorb the cost of grant money that dries up, rather than  relying on county funds as a replacement. And Patricia Gardner, director  of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, recommends that core human  services be shared by several county departments in order to maximize  resources. But even prudent planning can't account for unpredictable expenses. In further action Tuesday, the board reluctantly allocated $5 million  for the upcoming gubernatorial recall election. The unbudgeted expense  will cover poll workers, ballot printing and postage. Page last updated August 26, 2003 .