GIFT OF WORDS Sierra School library receives book donation.
Prospecting, page 6
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022
County adopts 2022-23 budget ■ $8 million to go toward road maintenance News release
Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
Tabatha Walker visits with Maria Alneida at Alneida’s Grizzly Flat property where she is living in a motorhome that was lent to her after her home was razed by the Caldor Fire.
Recovery up hill for Grizzly Flat residents Eric Jaramishian Staff writer For Grizzly Flat residents trying to recover from the Caldor Fire’s devastation, rebuilding is on the horizon for some and just out of reach for others. It’s been more than a year since the Caldor Fire ravaged the community and some fire victims have moved out of the area.
For those who chose to stay in Grizzly Flat the situation is more critical. Realtor Tabatha Walker lost her home on Sciaroni Road. While she was lucky enough to get herself and her husband into a rental, she is using all of her resources to get her house rebuilt. “Everything I am earning is just going straight into rebuilding our home,” Walker said. “If anything
unforeseen comes up, we don’t know how we’ll manage. Maybe take out a loan of sorts. “It’s hard to work with the anxiety of everything day to day,” Walker added. “It’s a struggle sometimes to even get out of bed but you have to push forward. You don’t have a choice. Almost everyone I know is suffering with ■
See RECOVERY, page 12
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 27 approved the 2022-23 budget of $952.3 million in governmental fund appropriations. “This budget continues the board’s fiscally conservative approach by balancing the needs to be prepared for a recession, while also investing in much-needed compensation increases and security enhancements for our employees as well as critical services to our community and our partner organizations,” stated Chief Administrative Officer Don Ashton. The adopted budget fully funds the General Fund contingency ($6.75 million plus an additional $10 million) and General Reserve ($11 million). The adopted budget funds most departments’ needs that were deferred in the recommended budget and includes total General Fund designations, reserves and contingency equal to 23.35% of total General Fund appropriations. This is an improvement from 2007-08, when the county had 10.18% of adjusted General Fund appropriations set aside in advance of the 2008 recession that resulted in service reductions and staff layoffs. Additional highlights of the adopted budget include: • $250,000 for security enhancements around government buildings • $4.2 million to repair Caldor Fire road damage • $8 million in additional discretionary revenue for road maintenance and improvements • $225,821 for the creation of a vegetation clearance program along roadways and countyowned property • $550,000 for the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience •$5.8 million to support essential equipment needs for our local fire districts and support the emergency medical services system Books on 2021-22 closed Sept. 2. State law requires approval of the adopted budget no later than Oct. 2.
Supplies drawn down as water year ends Michael Raffety Mountain Democrat correspondent The Alpine reservoirs, previously at or near capacity, are being PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
drawn down now to generate hydroelectric power “to offset Project 184 operation costs and meet consumptive water demands,” states a Sept. 26 report by El Dorado Irrigation District Hydrologist Jordan Baxter. Lake levels Sept. 29 were: Caples Lake at 65%, Silver Lake 52%, Echo Lake, which recently started being drawn down through the Echo Lake Tunnel, was at 20% and Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness was at 5%. Jenkinson Lake at Sly Park was at 64%, getting a boost from mid-September rains that have increased storage in Jenkinson by 2,000 acre-feet. It is projected to have 25,800
acre-feet of water at the beginning of the water year, Baxter wrote. For hydrologists the water year begins Oct. 1. Folsom Lake was down to 36%. The reservoir’s water has been used for fish releases in the Delta more than usual because Shasta Dam was holding less water this year. Normally Shasta would release cold water for the salmon. Despite the lower level of Folsom Lake, EID’s new stainless steel “straws” in Folsom Lake will continue to make water available for El Dorado Hills.
Folsom Heights EID has been a multicounty agency since
Mountain Democrat photo by Krysten Kellum
Jenkinson Lake at Sly Park, pictured Sept. 25 about 64% full, got a boost from mid-September rains that increased EID’s water storage in by 2,000 acre-feet. 1978. That has protected it from the state taking away some of its property tax revenue,
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