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Vol. 16, No. 38
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Festival shines on diversity
September 16, 2016
Upgrade Your Home, Garden
In remembrance
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Oakley’s diverse, small-town charm will be on display during the lively, one-day Heart of Oakley Festival this weekend, Sept. 17, at Civic Center Plaza and Main Street. The fourth-annual, free event, aimed at showcasing the city and its diverse cultures, will feature live entertainment, cultural booths, local food and wine, as well as a children’s area, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “This is a unique event,” said Cindy Coelho, Oakley recreation and event coordinator. “It’s held to let people see our downtown and to try to draw people from outside the community to see what Oakley has to offer.” Last year’s event drew about 4,500 people, and city officials have marketed the event outside the area see Festival page 30A
Check out this week’s special edition for ways to improve your home and garden. Page 1B
All Hands Abandon Ship Press photo
O
n Sept. 11, the Veterans of Oakley honored the victims of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks in New York City with a service at the Oakley Veterans Memorial. Local residents and officials attended, including, from left in the back row, Oakley Chief of Police Chris Thorsen, Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick and City Councilman Doug Hardcastle. In the front row from left are Officer Josh Dombrouski, Carlene Crow, Sgt. Robert Roberts and Randy Smith from the Oakley Veterans. To view a video of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia.
U.S. Coast Guard preps to remove a sunken boat near Franks Tract and Bethel Island. Page 5A
Fire district approves balanced budget Homecoming by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The financially strapped East Contra Costa Fire Protection District approved a balanced budget for the 2016 to 2017 fiscal year this week. The $14 million budget will fund four stations and 42 personnel, as well as the Cal-Fire contract, which covers the Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory areas of the district. It will end the year with a $30,000 budget. The district is projected to end the year with a $1.2 million deficit in its operating reserve. However, estimates indicate the reserve will recover, starting in the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year, when the district will move back to three stations, absent any new revenue. “I think we have done a good job,” said Board Member Joe
“ I think we have done a good job.
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Board Member Joe Young Young, a member of the district board’s finance subcommittee. Property-tax revenue, which accounts for 85 percent of the district’s revenue, is projected to jump 7.8 percent, to a total of $12.8 million. The district will also receive a combined $1.4 million from the cities of Brentwood and Oakley and Contra Costa County to help keep Knightsen Station 94, the district’s fourth station, open until June 2017. About 76 percent of the district’s $14.8 million in expenditures will be spent on personnel costs, which include salaries, current and past retirement costs and retiree and current health insurance expenditures.
About 33 percent of the personnel costs will go toward salaries, while 32 percent will go toward past retiree costs. About 12 percent of the costs will go toward current retirement costs, with another 11 percent going toward current employees’ health insurance. Although it makes up a large portion of the budget, the district’s pension costs did drop 2 percent from one year ago, after a period of continuous increases. The decline can be attributed to a drop in Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association rates, which were set 18 months in advance, when the district’s staffing level was higher. The rates take into account the district’s returns, payroll
and number of employees. “This is the one part of the budget that we have the least control of, because we are a consumer of the retiree system, so they set the rates and tell us what we need to pay,” Henderson said. “We budget to fund at 100 percent of what they require.” Board Vice President Ronald Johansen said although the district’s rising pension costs are highly criticized, firefighters are trying to limit the expense. Since 2012, firefighters have paid 100 percent of their share of the pension. Depending on a firefighter’s age when he joins the crew, up to 21 percent of his salary could go to retirement. “If you would have looked at this budget several years ago, you would see the district was covering see Budget page 30A
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Contra Costa Resource Conservation District calls for new board of directors.
Victory
Liberty High School’s Lions football team takes impressive win over Wood High. Page 21A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................24A Cop Logs.............................28A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............19A Milestones.........................13A Opinion...............................20A Pets......................................12A Sports..................................21A
Fish & Wildlife
go to news/press releases Contra Costa County accepting applications for fish and wildlife committee.