By BStigers on June 15, 2022.
Auburn City Council met Monday night, ready to accept their two-year budget; discussed the fourth of July celebration with parade, fireworks and a full day of events; Designated the Auburn State Theater as an historical building; voted to not increase sewer rates for two years; Approved increasing the TV Surveillance of license plates from the current number to additional 6 more in the city limits at a cost of 25 thousand dollars.
The Placer County report mentioned their scheduled meeting yesterday; They hoped to adopt a budget with a 3.8% increase in salaries and benefits, announced the purchase of Clover Valley in Rocklin; expect to get an additional update of vote counts still not counted with an additional 40,000 counted; and verified this election had the lowest vote in county history. Jim Holmes will update us later in the morning on yesterdays meeting.
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Placer County officials believe just a few dozen veterans remain in the foothill communitya s homeless population, and the local agency has a new program to help those former troops find places to live. The Placer County Housing Authority earlier this month began offering $1,000 bonuses to landlords who agree to rent to homeless veterans. The money is meant to give an extra incentive to California landlords to help them overcome any reservations they might have about renting to a homeless person.
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California Lawmakers sent the Governor their version of the state budget early which is due today. This yeara s version is 300 billion dollars. The majority, which is democrat, said there are several items that remain open and need negotiation with the governor. Republicans rejected it and said it was incomplete. Democrats said their budget would put a record amount of money into reserves, put $40 billion toward infrastructure, boost the statea s funding formula for public schools, plus investments in housing and transportation. Republicans said the budget doesna t do enough to address the statea s incoming crises including drought, extreme wildfires, strain on the electrical grid and a looming recession. Another unresolved piece of the statea s financial puzzle is direct payments promised months ago to Californians in response to rising gas prices and inflation. In a budget-related hearing Monday, the legislature planned to move ahead with sending money based on income and family size, while Newsoma s administration told lawmakers it prefers sending money based on car ownership. This has been the same debate for months. In the meantime, gasoline prices increase and no on one has promised relief.
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A Sacramento trucking company and other truckers are speaking out this week on the costs that are driving up fuel costs which is passed onto consumer products which are mostly transported by trucks. Another cost has creeped up, stealing from the trucks the Diesel fuel they have purchased and is in the trucka s tanks. State costs for Diesel is averaging 7 dollars a gallon. Thieves are poking holes into the trucks fuel tanks and syphon off fuel into 5- and 10-gallon containers. This not only gets the already paid for fuel but also ruins the tank or tanks which can cost thousands of dollars to replace plus the downtime of the damaged trucks. Vehicles that require diesel fuel on farms are also targets because they are often parked in large lots close together and require farmers to protect the equipment which thieves break into nights and off production times. This pattern of stealing fuel has been played out several times over past downturns of the economy and the playbook is well known.
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A thunderstorm in Bute Country Sunday closed highway 70 between Jarbo Gap and Greenville Wye in Plumas County. The basic cause is the result of this section of highway being in the massive destructive Dixie wildfire. The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021. The fire burned on the Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and became the second largest wildfire in California history, costing 540 million dollars to fight, surrounded Lake Almanor, and burning over one million acres. A fallen tree and flames were sighted by PG&E workers, believed to be the starter of this fire. The 50 mile stretch of highway remains closed to traffic today with no prediction when to expect opening.
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California lawmakers Tuesday began formal debate on a California constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to an abortion and contraception in the state. Democratic lawmakers would like to get it to voters on the November ballot, but in order to do that, theya ll need to get the proposal through the legislature by June 30. On a fast-tracked timeline, the bill had two hearings Tuesday. The measure passed 9-1 out of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, with one Republican rejecting and another not voting. Then, it cleared the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments 3-1. Pro-life groups, including the California Catholic Conference, spoke out in opposition.
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