SAN JOSE
– A South County resident will take the helm of the county
government and help guide it through the budgetary storm.
SAN JOSE – A South County resident will take the helm of the county government and help guide it through the budgetary storm.
County supervisors have appointed Morgan Hill resident Pete Kutras to serve as interim county executive to replace the retiring Richard Wittenberg. He will assume the post effective April 1.
Kutras has served as an Assistant County Executive since July 1999 and has also served in several other positions since starting work at the county in 1974, including Director of Labor Relations and Director of Personnel.
He assumes the post as the county faces unprecedented financial strain. Officials have predicted a local budget deficit of as much as $160 million that is blamed on the slow economy and rising retirement and health-care costs.
When combined with millions more in impacts expected to rain down from the state government’s massive $30-plus billion shortfall, leaders have raised the specter of both direct service cuts and layoffs in sewing up the gaps this time around.
“Pete will do a fine job and ensure the stability of the organization during this transition,” said Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, the board’s chairwoman. “He knows county operations and he understands the policies and priorities of the board.”
Kutras will oversee a $3.8 billion annual budget and day-to-day operations of some 16,000 workers in a wide range of fields. The county is responsible for on-the-ground management of many social programs for the less fortunate – including welfare, public and mental health – as well as a diverse suite of other services ranging from animal control to general aviation to law enforcement. He will earn a $221,500 salary.
Wittenberg, 62, announced his retirement in January after eight years at the county’s helm, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Supervisors expect to select an executive recruitment firm next month to aid their search for a permanent replacement for Wittenberg. The search is expected to take a minimum of four to six months.
