County supervisors meet to discuss budget, concerned with KMC costs, new jail facility

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Supervisors met Monday night to discuss the county budget, which weighed in at more than $2 billion for the next fiscal year, and began more budget hearings Tuesday morning.

The meetings took place Monday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 9 a.m. in the board chambers at 1115 Truxtun Avenue.

The public weighed in for Monday night’s meeting, with some residents making a last-minute pitch to increase funding for literacy programs and the library, including free wireless internet in libraries and $25,000 for adult education programs.

These requests come during a time that the county has spent an extra $26 million dollars to keep KernMedicalCenter from going under.

Monday, CountyAdministrative Officer John Nilon said that $10 million is expected to be spent on KMC next year, with more money set aside for any “state liabilities that they may have.”

“We’re also funding about $2.5 million for capital projects,” Nilon said. “So, it is an ongoing expense for the general fund.”

KMC isn’t the only big project on the county’s hands.

A new jail facility cost $100 million, provided by the state, according to Nilon.  However; he said that once the facility is built, it will be the county’s responsibility to pay for staffing.  The county expects staffing the facility to cost $27.5 million.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office hopes to combat that cost by shifting workers from the Lerdo County Jail, potentially saving $7 million in staffing costs.

The bill for the remaining $20 million, however, may be footed by tax payers. The county is considering a half-cent sales tax increase to make up the difference.

Another concern is the increased contribution to the pension fund for retired county workers, which, by some estimates, the county may need to pay out an additional $22 million.