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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2004 County budget grows for bridges, airport By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County’s preliminary budget will swell to $274 million next year thanks to $39 million in state bond money to repair bridges and another $7 million in federal money for improvements to the airport. But even though the budget is bigger than last year’s $236 million, it doesn’t mean the county will be better off than it was two years ago. "We have reduced services," said Dave Kanner, deputy county administrator. "We have shut down the Talent jail. We have reduced health services. We have reduced community justice. You have to put it in that perspective." The health services budget has been particularly hard hit, resulting in fewer people in the methadone program and less treatment for the mentally ill. The county will look at its 2004-05 budget at a public meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. Advertisement While the county ramps up capital projects for bridges and the airports, it will wind down spending on voter-approved bonds for libraries and the juvenile center. Of the $38.9 million for rebuilding or refurbishing 14 of the county’s 15 libraries, there is $9.4 million left for the remaining projects. The library system has been improved, said Kanner, but library hours were curtailed last year because of budget cuts. Construction of the new Juvenile Service Center on 10th Street will be wrapped up by the end of summer. This project was funded by $16.5 million in voter-approved bonds. The county is bracing for the possible loss of more funding from federal timber receipts, which make up $22 million annually. Kanner said the county will try to have $16 million set aside in a rainy-day fund in case the federal money dries up in 2007. Also, the county is hoping the state will come through with more money to help some health services programs. The budget committee will hold two other public meetings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 and April 22 at the courthouse auditorium. Public testimony will be heard. The budget committee will also hold a public meeting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 at the courthouse auditorium at which public testimony will not be heard. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers