The Board of Supervisors has a tough job ahead as they try to balance 2009-2010 $4.9 million budget.
At a board meeting Tuesday morning, several county workers urge the board to consider other options as some have already received pink slips.
"I urge you to please consider other viable options other than pushing me out the door," Claudia Espitia said.
Espitia is 28 years old and is a single mother of two young children. She works as a Imaging Technician for the past 7 years with the county . Her job is in limbo.
"It's going to affect me and my co-workers very deeply. I'm hoping for another outcome," Espitia said.
Her co-worker is in the same situation. Elizabeth Orman, also an Imaging Technician, says she learned her last day with the county will July 2nd. She received the news following her return from a 2 week vacation in the Phillippines.
"I hope I will find something to support my children and my home," Orman said. She's also a single mother supporting her two children in college.
These two women along with nearly 50 other county workers are slated to lose their jobs. More than 750 filled and unfilled jobs will be slashed to balance next year's budget. Among the groups that are on the chopping block: Public Safety, Health and Human Services, Finance and General Government and Land Use and Environmental Group.
Leaders of these groups presented to the board how they'll cut programs and services in order to help balance the budget.
SEIU local 221 represents 10,000 workers in San Diego and Imperial counties. Union President, Sharon Francis Moore, feels there are other alternatives other than laying off county workers.
"When you're in a rough time, the reserve is sometimes the place to go," Moore said.
The county has nearly $700 million in reserve funds. Some county workers argue why not use some of this money to run the day to day operations of the county.
"Spending one time money on going expenses is disastrous fiscal policy," Chairwoman Dianne Jacob said. Jacob serves district 2 which encompasses most of eastern San Diego county.
The reserve helps the county gets it Triple A credit rating. Jacob doesn't want the money touch.
"If we have another fire, or if we have an earthquake or disaster, we need that emergency fund," Jacob said.
But in the mind of Espitia, a single mother, the county's budget crunch is an emergency. She hopes the board will somehow manage to save her $43,000 a year salary.
"I think about children. I'm not doing very well with it," Espitia said.
The Board of Supervisors has until June 23rd to adopt a new budget for 2009-2010. From now until then, the board will meet to hear ideas and figure out ways to balance a lean budget.
"I see it getting worst before it gets better" Jacob said.
At a board meeting Tuesday morning, several county workers urge the board to consider other options as some have already received pink slips.
"I urge you to please consider other viable options other than pushing me out the door," Claudia Espitia said.
Espitia is 28 years old and is a single mother of two young children. She works as a Imaging Technician for the past 7 years with the county . Her job is in limbo.
"It's going to affect me and my co-workers very deeply. I'm hoping for another outcome," Espitia said.
Her co-worker is in the same situation. Elizabeth Orman, also an Imaging Technician, says she learned her last day with the county will July 2nd. She received the news following her return from a 2 week vacation in the Phillippines.
"I hope I will find something to support my children and my home," Orman said. She's also a single mother supporting her two children in college.
These two women along with nearly 50 other county workers are slated to lose their jobs. More than 750 filled and unfilled jobs will be slashed to balance next year's budget. Among the groups that are on the chopping block: Public Safety, Health and Human Services, Finance and General Government and Land Use and Environmental Group.
Leaders of these groups presented to the board how they'll cut programs and services in order to help balance the budget.
SEIU local 221 represents 10,000 workers in San Diego and Imperial counties. Union President, Sharon Francis Moore, feels there are other alternatives other than laying off county workers.
"When you're in a rough time, the reserve is sometimes the place to go," Moore said.
The county has nearly $700 million in reserve funds. Some county workers argue why not use some of this money to run the day to day operations of the county.
"Spending one time money on going expenses is disastrous fiscal policy," Chairwoman Dianne Jacob said. Jacob serves district 2 which encompasses most of eastern San Diego county.
The reserve helps the county gets it Triple A credit rating. Jacob doesn't want the money touch.
"If we have another fire, or if we have an earthquake or disaster, we need that emergency fund," Jacob said.
But in the mind of Espitia, a single mother, the county's budget crunch is an emergency. She hopes the board will somehow manage to save her $43,000 a year salary.
"I think about children. I'm not doing very well with it," Espitia said.
The Board of Supervisors has until June 23rd to adopt a new budget for 2009-2010. From now until then, the board will meet to hear ideas and figure out ways to balance a lean budget.
"I see it getting worst before it gets better" Jacob said.
