Many people are uncertain about what a county supervisor does.
Santa Clara County supervisors are elected by the voters to
represent the 1.8 million county residents.
Many people are uncertain about what a county supervisor does. Santa Clara County supervisors are elected by the voters to represent the 1.8 million county residents. Supervisors hold regular public meetings to vote on issues relating to parks, land use, transportation, public safety, and health services. Most laws passed by the Board of Supervisors apply to unincorporated residents and businesses; not to those in cities. However, most county services are available for all residents.
I will be changing the format of my monthly column to a Q and A segment called “Let’s Ask Mike” so that I can help answer your county-related questions. This month, I want to update you on some recent events that affect South County residents.
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On June 17, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a $4.1 billion balanced budget on time and without the use of one-time fixes and gimmicks that just postpone addressing the problem. We still don’t know the full impact of state budget cuts, but we are prepared to address those challenges when they come. We balanced the budget by working with staff, employees, and the public to address the $235 million deficit head on, with the least amount of service impacts possible. In the end, 309 jobs were cut and most of the 15,000 employees will receive reductions in compensation. My fellow supervisors and I have received salary and benefits reductions as well. I am pleased that we were able to save the rural deputies and the District Attorney’s cold case unit, both of which had been targeted for cuts.
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You have probably heard that the area code 408 is running out of available numbers and that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will soon introduce a new 669 area code in Santa Clara County. They are in the process of considering how best to address this change.
The new area code will be implemented either through an overlay (use both 408 and 669 countywide) or through a geographic split (divide the county between 408 and 669). On May 24, the Santa Clara County Supervisors recommended the overlay, which was also the preference of both the Gilroy and Morgan Hill Chambers of Commerce. However, the CPUC has not made a final decision, and as the decision-making body, they will ultimately determine which method will be adopted.
Once the CPUC makes its decision, service providers will be required to implement the new area code within a specific period which could be six months to one year. If you have a preference, please vote for it on the CPUC website: https://ia.cpuc.ca.gov/408areacode/
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As I reported to you in March, the boundaries of the five supervisorial districts are changing this year based on the 2010 census. The Board of Supervisors approved a new map on June 21 based on input from the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission and from the public. The map is scheduled for final approval in August and will go into effect November of this year.
District 1 – the district that encompasses Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill – changed very little, adding Monte Sereno which had been in District 1 previously. The district no longer includes certain portions of San Jose and the east foothills. You can view the new map by going to my website www.supervisorwasserman.org and clicking on the link “Redistricting Update.”
Please visit my website at www.supervisorwasserman.org and feel free to contact me anytime with your comments, questions, or concerns. My toll free phone number from South County is 408-683-4115 and my email is mi************@********ov.org.
