YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 18, No. 23
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Senior Panther pride on display housing A grand opening Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) recently celebrated the grand opening of Tabora Gardens Senior Apartments – 85 affordable homes for veterans, seniors and people with special needs. Of the homes, 33 will be set aside for veterans, 12 of which will be formerly chronically homeless. Tabora Gardens Senior Apartments provides a solution to a growing need for affordable housing for California’s veterans and is part of Contra Costa County’s Zero: 2016 campaign to end veteran homelessness. According to the California Depart-
ntioch High School (AHS) held its third Panther Grad Parade, which features some 45 soon-to-be graduates visiting Antioch school campuses. This year, AHS paraded to Belshaw, Kimball, Marsh, Mission, Sutter and Turner elementaries and Antioch Middle School. “The Panther Photo courtesy of Trine Gallegos Parade is such a positive event for the seniors and our students,” said Lindsay Wisely, AHS principal. “Our students get a chance to see where they are going and what academic success looks like. Seeing kids who went to AHS and who live in the neighborhood makes graduating very real for them. It promotes all of the positive values of hard work and accomplishment. What a great way to give back and be celebrated.”
see Senior page 34
Fire district approves balanced budget by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board recently approved a balanced preliminary operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. But it comes with a harsh reality: the agency still doesn’t have adequate resources to serve the area. The fiscal estimate maintains the current three stations and 35 personnel, most of which are tasked with protecting over 114,000 residents and 249 square miles. “We are financially sound with three stations for 10 years, but we still need to address service levels,” said Fire Chief Brian Helmick. The preliminary budget, ex-
“ We are financially sound with three stations for 10 years, but we still need to address service levels.
pected to be finalized in September, projects that the district will end the 2018-2019 fiscal year with $1.7 million in excess revenue after estimating $16.2 million in revenue and $14.5 million in expenses. Also factored in is a $3.2 million operating carryover and $10.2 excess carryover, which includes $6.2 million erroneously left behind when the district transferred its funds and financial operations from the county to the district. “We are taking care of all the financial obligations within this
budget,” said Helmick, who noted that the district will not touch the $6.2 million until past budget audits are completed. About 96 percent of the organization’s revenue will come from property taxes, which are expected to increase by about 6 percent over the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Meanwhile, personnel costs, accounting for about 72 percent of the agency’s expenses, will jump about 5 percent to $10,513,881. Roughly 40 percent of that $10,513,881 will go to salaries and
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incentives, and 31 percent will cover past costs of retirement. “Like every public safety agency, the large majority of our expenses go to our personnel,” Helmick said. As the district trudges ahead with its three stations, officials are eyeing the future and exploring ways to increase services, Helmick said. In addition to spending about $250,000 on November’s election to usher in a five-member elected board, the district will allocate an estimated $100,000 over two years for strategic planning and funding studies. An additional $60,000 will be spent on a legislative consultant, acting as an ambassador for the agency to improve communica-
June 8, 2018
New Life For Humphrey’s
The Antioch Marina’s iconic Humphrey’s restaurant has new owners and a new name. Page 4
Election Day Updates
Take a look at preliminary results of the statewide primary election. Page 6
Striking It Rich At PBA
Ron Mohr wins PBA50 Northern California Classic at Brentwood’s Harvest Park Bowl. Page 25
see Budget page 34
Calendar................................35 Classifieds.............................30 Cop Logs................................33 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Health & Beauty..................17 Milestones............................22 Kid Scoop................................9 Pets.........................................21 Sports.....................................25
EBT Changes
Ag Meeting
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Electronic benefit transfer users will have some restrictions placed on their cards in June.
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Agricultural land-use public meeting to be held in Knightsen.