SAN BERNARDINO Another budget year is unfolding and economic recovery for the County is a slow process. In an annual fiscal overview issued Tuesday, County Supervisors were told that ‘many more years of tight budgeting (are likely) in response to projected shortfalls.’ Some levels of service that were reduced during the recession are being restored. The County will invest in infrastructure to avoid higher costs later. This includes repairing roads, replacing antiquated emergency communications and fiscal systems, making the best use of existing space instead of building or leasing new space, and gradually restoring drastic cuts made to parks, museums, elections, and the Auditor-Controller, according to Supervisors’ Chairman James Ramos. Projections show a modest $10.8 million budget surplus for the fiscal year that begins July 1. However, those same projections show a shortfall of $17.7 million to $40.8 million by 2020 when the cost of possible employee pay and benefit increases are factored in. It’s expected there will be $4.7 billion in revenue to balance $4.7 billion in expenses for the coming fiscal year.
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