Tight Budget, Hurricane Preparedness Discussed at Monthly Forum

Commissioner Santamaria

Commissioner Santamaria

Commissioner Santamaria, County Administrator Bob Weisman and Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson

Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson

 

Commissioner Jess Santamaria held his monthly community forum on July 20 at the original Wellington Mall. About 50 west-central area residents attended. The main topics were the FY-2012 budget presented by County Administrator Bob Weisman and storm season preparedness presented by Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson.

Commissioner Santamaria opened the discussion by stating the need to be specific about actual dollars being spent, not percentages or millage rates. “The first thing I look for is in the areas of waste,” he said. “Are we spending money on things that we don’t really need?”

Mr. Weisman said the proposed FY-2012 budget contains several recommended cuts to programs that while nice to have are not considered essential services. These include reducing lifeguard coverage at some beaches during non-peak periods, and possibly closing some county pools and nature centers. Swimming pools, he noted, are among the most costly county facilities to operate and the least used.

“It is seemingly impossible to identify areas to cut that everyone agrees on,” he said.

The proposed county budget is $100 million lower than it was five years ago, and 900 county jobs have been eliminated over that period. For the third straight year, county employees will receive no raises, and they are now required to contribute a portion of their paychecks toward the state pension retirement program.

Questions from the audience touched on fleet vehicles used by off-duty sheriff deputies, the Glades Utility Authority, debt service on Scripps and Max Planck, and Fire Rescue concessions.

Citizens were urged to attend one or both public hearings on the FY-2012 budget slated for September 13 (preliminary adoption) and 27 (final adoption) beginning at 6 p.m. in the commission chambers.

Mr. Johnson spoke for about 20 minutes on the importance of having an emergency plan, putting together a three-day survival kit, and staying informed throughout the storm season.

“Every person in Palm Beach County needs to know if they are in an evacuation zone,” he said.

Evacuate only if you must, he advised, and stay within the county, if possible. “The last thing we want is for thousands of people to be stuck on the highway when a hurricane hits.”

If you do not have a friend, relative or co-worker to stay with and you must leave your home, the county operates 15 general population emergency shelters as well as a pet-friendly shelter in West Boynton. Keep in mind that not all shelters will be open at the same time.

All the information you need to stay safe this season is available at pbcgov.com. Just click on the “Hurricane Preparedness” link in the upper right.