They also approved layoffs to a dozen employees and a complex borrowing plan to buy time for future cuts.
 
But Supervisor Roger Dickinson says the alternative to the borrowing would be much worse.
 
Dickinson: “The consequences of doing that would be so severe and so draconian that it – in my mind – far outweighs the consequences of borrowing that money and having to repay it later.” 
 
So now, the county will transfer $17 million from funds that are normally off-limits to prevent even steeper reductions.  The cash will have to be paid back within five years.
 
These probably won’t be the last mid-year reductions.  Next month, county administrators will likely ask supervisors to approve more cuts to health care – and also the sheriff, district attorney and probation departments – with up to another $20 million of borrowing.