City Council subcommittee to cut $2.5 million

Facing at least a $4.8 million shortfall in the 2010-2011 General Fund budget, the City of Turlock set about the hard work of identifying possible cuts during a budget subcommittee meeting Tuesday afternoon.

10 more cut from county

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors cut 10 more positions Tuesday morning - nine of which were filled - in their ongoing efforts to eliminate a $10 million budget deficit. But those being eliminated argue that the cutbacks will cost the county more than the move will save.

State to take $4 million from Turlock RDA

The State of California is one step closer to a balanced budget, but the state's solvency will come - in part - at the Turlock Redevelopment Agency's expense.

Turlock’s drinking water supply faces challenges

A number of potential problems face the City of Turlock's drinking water supply in the year to come, according to a report delivered Tuesday by Michael Cooke, Turlock Regulatory Affairs manager.

Westside farmers could benefit from wastewater recycling

Where wastewater flows, food could grow.

Less bucks for books

The Stanislaus County Library is the target of the latest round of county budget cuts, falling to service levels not seen since before the 1995 adoption of a one-eighth cent library sales tax.

Hughson sets date for recall election, opts out of funding

The date has been set; all that's left is to figure out how the Hughson City Council recall election will be funded.

Supervisors vote to lay off 52 sheriff's employees

In front of a somber crowd, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a measure Tuesday morning to trim the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department budget by $6.4 million, effectively forcing the lay off of 52 full-time sheriff's department employees and deleting 16 vacant positions.

Water, homeless shelters on tap for council

The future of Turlock's drinking water supply will take center stage at the Turlock City Council's Tuesday meeting, as councilmembers will receive a long-requested report on water issues in the City of Turlock.

City Council adopts budget policy

The Turlock City Council adopted a plan on April 13 that calls for the city to investigate a two-year budgetary cycle - a change in practice from the year-by-year budgets of the past - but stopped short of deciding how a committee will meet to work out that budget.

California recognizes Armenian Genocide

Local businessman Daniel Aydenian grew up hearing stories of his father's survival of the darkest time in Armenian history.

No dog park in our backyard, say residents

Citizens of Turlock weren't bow-wowed by proposals for new dog parks. Residents packed City Hall for Wednesday's meeting of the Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission to oppose two proposed sites for new dog parks. The suggested sites, a greenbelt off Country Walk Lane, near East Taylor Road, and a storm basin at the corner of East Hawkeye Avenue and North Quincy Road, drew near-universal opposition. Of more than 30 public speakers, only four supported ...

Hughson’s ‘dog and pony’ show stirs up finger pointing

Attempts by the Hughson City Council to fire the city clerk and to gain more control over city hiring practices went unnoticed by many Hughson residents at Monday night's council meeting. Residents were more interested in making their opinions known about the three council members recently reprimanded by the Civil Grand Jury. A crowd flooded the community center on Monday night and some meeting attendees held up signs reading "Resign Now" to show the three ...

Council approves Carnegie bid

In 2005, an arson fire destroyed Turlock's Carnegie Arts Center. By the end of May, nearly five years after its destruction, ground will be broken on a new, expanded Carnegie Arts Center, following a unanimous Turlock City Council decision Tuesday evening.

Hughson City Council members come under fire, again, from Civil Grand Jury

The three Hughson City Council members found to be violation of the Brown Act, the Hughson Municipal Code and the Fair Political Practices Commission are now in trouble for not responding to the Civil Grand Jury.

Council to resume budget talks

On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council will consider adopting a final budget for the 2012-2013 year.

Carnegie funds request puts council at odds

Members of the Turlock City Council squared off Tuesday evening, disagreeing on whether a $100,000 security deposit should be returned in whole or part to the Carnegie Arts Center Foundation. Per the terms of the lease agreement for the Carnegie Arts Center, built by the City of Turlock for $6.7 million, the foundation was required to place a $100,000 security deposit with the city. Eight months after the center's reopening, the foundation requested ...

Police, fire positions on chopping block

The surging costs of healthcare benefits could drive the City of Turlock to cut police and firefighters in an effort to keep budgets in check. Facing $34 million in General Fund expenses, with only $30 million in projected revenues, Turlock City Council members will consider eliminating three police officer positions and one police lieutenant. Those positions are not currently filled, but the Turlock Police Department had been actively recruiting, Police Chief Rob Jackson ...

Council gets down to brass tacks with General Fund budget

It's back to the 2012-2013 budget for the Turlock City Council on Tuesday, as the council will hold a special 5:45 p.m. meeting to delve into the General Fund.

Social services costs soar in county

This year's Stanislaus County budget is largely on-track, but unfunded state and federal mandates represent major challenges going forward. County supervisors heard the final budget update of the 2011-2012 fiscal year on Tuesday, learning that most county departments are operating well within their spending limits. Unanticipated costs related to the upcoming Presidential Primary election and maintaining the 12th Street Parking Garage and the Finch Road Animal Services Facility represented the sole large overages ...

Council balks at putting road tax on November ballot

Turlock's streets are in poor condition, but a new, dedicated tax to improve those roads likely won't come until 2014 at the earliest, city council members said Tuesday night.

Declining funding means hazy future for city housing plan

After several successful years for Turlock Housing Program Services, the department now finds itself facing rapidly declining funding. State support is dropping, federal stimulus funds are drying up, and the elimination of redevelopment agencies has cut millions more in dedicated low-income housing funding. "It creates some limitations about what we can do," said Maryn Pitt, Turlock Housing Program Services manager. "As I've mentioned before council, this is the year of the perfect storm ...

Local control of Amtrak San Joaquin better for customers, says Galgiani

Regional governments could soon manage Amtrak's San Joaquin Corridor, if a new bill passes the state legislature. The bill, authored by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), would transfer administrative control of the Amtrak line from CalTrans to a coalition of local governments. Those locals would better understand how to run the train, the bill posits, leading to improved service for customers. "Local and regional government and transportation agency officials from Bakersfield to Sacramento ...

Farmers beat back child labor legislation

State Parks increases fees; Local rec areas’ future still uncertain

The fate of Turlock's area State Parks remains uncertain, but the cost to attend the surviving State Parks will increase. Effective May 1, vehicle day use annual passes will increase from $125 to $195. Golden Poppy vehicle day use passes – not valid at high-demand or locally operated parks – will rise from $90 to $125. Boat use passes will climb from $75 to $100. And limited use Golden Bear passes, for senior ...

Lights could go out for some Denair residents

Three Denair neighborhoods face a decision in the coming weeks - pay a new assessment, or see streetlights shut off. Those three areas, containing 33.5 acres, 126 parcels, and 13 streetlights, are inadvertently receiving free streetlighting, the county says, when they should have been included in a large Denair lighting assessment district. The Denair Highway Lighting District, like other such county districts, assesses parcels for their share of the costs to provide ...

Arts Commission gets second chance

A smaller, leaner Turlock City Arts Commission will live on, in spite of a city staff suggestion that the Turlock City Council eliminate the longstanding commission on Tuesday. "I think disbanding would be a terrible thing," said Councilmember Amy Bublak. "I was a part of it. I don't want to see it gone." The previously 25-member commission will be trimmed to just seven members, with two alternates. The smaller size should help ...

Council to decide fate of city arts commission

The future of the Turlock City Arts Commission is up for debate Tuesday, as the Turlock City Council is expected to consider disbanding the long-standing commission.

City begins budget process

Budget season officially kicked off for the City of Turlock on Tuesday, when the City Council accepted parts of the Non-General Fund budget.

New taxes needed to maintain roads, says city

The City of Turlock may ask citizens to support new taxes on the November ballot, dedicated to repairing the city's dilapidated roadways. The potential initiative arose at a special Turlock City Council workshop on Tuesday, where council discussed the massive costs to mend and maintain the city's streets. "We are currently not investing enough money in our road network to maintain or improve our streets," said City Engineer Mike Pitcock. Turlock ...