Tasked with winnowing a long (and sometimes strange) list of requests for revenue from the county’s recently passed tax measure, the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures has chosen to recommend roughly $8.9 million in funding for the upcoming fiscal year, with the vast majority suggested for public safety agencies.

This will no doubt come as welcome news to the voting public, which passed both Measure Z countywide and Measure Q in Eureka, as well as the chosen agencies, including the Eureka Police Department, which has been tasked with cutting staff, and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, which stands to gain 30 positions if the Board of Supervisors approves the committee’s recommendations.

Here’s a press release from the county:

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors will soon be presented with a recommendation on projects to be funded by Measure Z, the county-wide half-cent sales tax passed by voters in November. The Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Measure Z Expenditures this week held its seventh meeting in which it took public input and evaluated proposals that sought a share of these funds. The committee has finalized its recommendations and will present them to the board on June 2.

The committee is recommending roughly $8.9 million in funding for FY 2015-16, including $3.5 million for the Sheriff’s Office to hire 30 positions, and more than $2.6 million to the Humboldt County Fire Chief’s Association for fire equipment. Some other projects being recommended for funding include more than $1.5 million to the District Attorney to hire 11 positions; over $600,000 to the Probation Department to hire six positions; and $400,000 to the Eureka Police Department for positions and services.

A total of 46 applications were submitted for funding. The committee sorted these applications in to three categories: “must have,” “need to have,” and “nice to have.” The committee further developed two lists for projects to be funded. The primary list includes projects the committee recommends be funded first, and is comprised of “must have” projects. The secondary list includes projects that should be considered during the mid-year budget review. If applicants cannot or do not expend their funds during FY 2015-16, the committee is recommending that projects on the secondary list be considered.

Primary List 

Organization
(Alphabetical)		 Funding
Project		 Recommended
Allocations
Area 1 Agency on Aging Elder Ombusdman $10,452
District Attorney Frozen Positions $1,507,934
Eureka Police Department Homelessness/MIST $400,000
Fire Chief’s Association Equipment, Dispatch, Planning $2,629,100
*Hoopa Valley Tribal Council Willow Creek Ambulance $267,543
Probation Department Probation Officers $607,047
Sheriff’s Office 30 Frozen Positions $3,500,000
Total Recommended Funding
$8,922,076

 

Secondary List

Organization
 Funding
Project		 Recommended
Allocations
Department of Health & Human Services -
Children & Family Services		 Child Welfare Workers $1,003,139
North Coast Substance Abuse Council Rehab Services $113,150
Public Defender Social Worker/IT Technician $190,000
Public Works Improve Road Surfaces $630,000

To see the full breakdown of proposals, view item C3 of the April 30 agenda.

To view the applications in full, view item C4 of the March 25 agenda.

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