County executive office employees up for raise
San Jose
– County Executive Pete Kutras Jr. will ask the Santa Clara
County Board of Supervisors today for an average 3 percent raise
for the 159 employees in the County Executive’s office.
County executive office employees up for raise
San Jose – County Executive Pete Kutras Jr. will ask the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors today for an average 3 percent raise for the 159 employees in the County Executive’s office.
“I struggled with this,” Kutras said Monday. “There’s never a good time to ask for a pay raise, but I need to be able to reward those who achieve their goals on behalf of their community. “This group has done its fair share of taking reduced raises,” Kutras added, noting that his department lags behind the raises given other county agencies over the last decade.
The County Executive office acts in support of the Supervisors and other county agencies, and provides policy analysis and ensures implementation of legislation and Board policy. The proposed raise appears to have the supervisors’ support. Caroline Judy, chief of staff for Supervisor Jim Beall, said Monday that her boss will vote for the raise because the office has gone without a wage increase since 2002.
If the raise is approved, it will add about $790,000 to the budget for fiscal year 2006, which begins July 1.
Kutras’s office is currently looking at ways to slash $127.3 million from next year’s budget. It will eliminate 250 vacant positions, and trim $10.6 million from public safety agencies and $10.2 million from the Social Services agency.
Gilroy Foundation accepting grant requests
Gilroy – The Gilroy Foundation is accepting requests for applications to apply for a grant for 2005. The foundation funds civic, cultural, educational health and recreational programs benefiting the Gilroy community. Applicants must be a 501c3 non-profit organization.
The deadline for submitting applications is Jan. 31, 2005.
Applications can be downloaded from www.gilroyfoundation.org., or call 842-3727 to receive one by mail.
Groundbreaking for Santa Clara County Courthouse
Morgan Hill – Officials will gather at 2:30pm Thursday to break ground for the new $48 million county courthouse and justice building to be built on Butterfield Boulevard between Diana Avenue and the Caltrain lot in Morgan Hill. The 80,000 square-foot buildings will contain courts and jury rooms and offices for the district attorney, public defender and probation departments.
County Supervisor Don Gage, Mayor Dennis Kennedy, Courts Administrator William Vickrey, Superior Court Presiding Judge Thomas Hansen, County Executive Peter Kutras Jr., Superior Court CEO Kiri Torre and other officials will don hard hats and take up shovels to kick off construction.
The building is expected to open in spring 2006.
Gilroy Garlic Festival searches for its 2005 art poster
Gilroy – The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, Inc. is accepting entries for the 2005 Art Poster Contest. A $750 first prize will go to the entry judged to best capture the spirit and essence of this premier food festival. The second place winner will receive $400 and third place $200.
The deadline is 5pm, March 1, 2005. Entry forms and complete contest rules are available from the festival office, 7473 Monterey Street, Gilroy CA 95020.
Details: 842-1625.
Send news items to City Editor Robert Airoldi. FAX to 842-2206, mail to Gilroy Dispatch, 6400 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020, or e-mail
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