Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/153816
WEEKEND AUGUST 17-18, 2013 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Food for the next generation Farm 5A DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 96/66 Weather forecast 10B TEHAMA COUNTY $1.00 T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Logue seeks mental health spending audit SACRAMENTO (AP) — A Republican lawmaker said Friday that he will introduce legislation seeking annual audits to show how California counties are spending billions of dollars in voter-approved money for mental health programs, after a state audit found there has been little oversight to ensure the money is going to those who need it most. Regular, intensive audits of all 58 counties are needed to ensure they are complying with all aspects of Proposition 63, the 2004 ballot measure that authorized a 1 percent tax on incomes over $1 million, said Assemblyman Dan Logue of Marysville, who is vice chairman of the Assembly Health Committee. The state auditor reported this week that California has failed to properly monitor the program and that the state can offer "little assurance that the counties have effectively and appropriately used the almost $7.4 billion" raised since 2005. The review came in response to an investigation last year by The Associated Press that found tens of millions of dollars raised under Proposition 63 have gone to programs designed to help those who have not been diagnosed with any mental illness. Those so-called innovation programs include yoga, gardening, "When voters approved higher taxes in 2004 to spend more on mental health, they expected those taxes to treat those who are seriously ill. Yet government bureaucrats have spent millions on questionable priorities such as yoga classes for city workers, horseback riding for teens, and Zumba dance classes." — Assemblyman Dan Logue art classes and horseback riding. "When voters approved higher taxes in 2004 to spend more on mental health, they expected those taxes to treat those who are seriously ill," Logue said in a written statement. "Yet government bureaucrats have spent millions on questionable priorities such as yoga classes for city workers, horseback riding for teens, and Zumba dance classes." Also Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a coauthor of Proposition 63, sent a one-sentence letter to senior officials at the California Department of Health Care Services and a commission established to Dark Sky over Lassen Special to the DN MINERAL — Participation in Lassen's second annual Dark Sky Festival was out of this world! More than 4,200 visitors attended the three-day festival from August 9 - 11. The festival celebrated one of the park's most spectacular and often overlooked resources – it's incredible, dark night sky. Excellent viewing conditions, a stunning meteor shower, and pronounced appreciation for a threatened resource combined to make this year's festival truly unforgettable. Lassen Volcanic National Park partners and volunteers were fundamental to the success of this year's festival. Twenty-six volunteers donated over 300 hours helping park visitors to discover that Half the Park Is oversee the Mental Health Services Act. His letter asked when they would "complete and publish outcome-based evaluations on each part" of the program. Logue said he will seek bipartisan co-authors for his legislation to require regular audits. He intends to introduce the bill next year. Jobless rate up for 2nd month DN Staff Report For the second straight month Tehama County's unemployment rate ticked up as preliminary statistics peg July's unemployment rate at 12.2 percent, according to statistics released Friday by the Employment Development Division. The number is still well below the county's unemployment rate a year ago, which was 14.9 percent. After months of decline, Tehama County's unemployment rate rose to 11.6 percent in June, but the county also saw an increase in the total labor force: 25,160 compared to 24,670 in May. In July, the labor force saw a 2.8 percent decrease compared to June. The labor force is 1.8 percent below where it stood a year ago. Total farm jobs fell by 16.5 percent compared to June, but remain flat compared to a year ago. Nonfarm sectors hit the hardest in July were local government, wholesale trade and service providing. Local government jobs fell from 3,780 in June to 3,210 in July. Local government jobs are still up 2.2 percent compared to a year ago. Wholesale trade jobs fell from 300 in June to 280 in July. Mining and logging jobs increased from 140 in June to 160 in July. Construction jobs increased from 420 to 450. Shasta County's unemployment rate was 10.9 percent and Butte County's was 10.8 percent. Glenn County's unemployment rate was 13.1 percent. California's unemployment rate increased slightly to 8.7 See SKY, page 9A See RATE, page 9A Courtesy photo by Astronomical Society of Nevada. Forest to consider simplifying Camp Discovery fees Mendocino National Forest recreation managers are accepting comments on a proposal to change the fee structure at Camp Discovery Group Camp at Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area. Currently Camp Discovery is available for rent for either day use or overnight use. The proposal is to restructure rental of the site under a single user fee to allow rental of the site from 2 p.m. to 11 a.m. the following day. During these hours, renters may use the site either overnight or for day use activities. The fee being proposed for the group site is $175, the current overnight fee. The proposed fee is consistent with rental fees at similar public and private group overnight and day use recreation facilities throughout California. Moving to a single fee and rental structure will improve operations and increase management effi- ciently. It will also allow the public to reserve the site through the National Recreation Reservation Service at 877-444-6777 or online at recreation.gov. Camp Discovery receives 95 percent of fees generated, which are invested in the facility, providing ongoing operations, maintenance and improvements. In recent years, recreation fees have provided staffing to clean and maintain the facility prior to and following group rentals, general building maintenance, mowing grassy areas and paving paths. "We recognize how important Camp Discovery is to the local community, as well as others who use the site for large events," Grindstone District Ranger Eduardo Olmedo said. "The single fee for rental of the site will allow us to manage Camp Discovery more efficiently, ensuring visitors continue to enjoy the high quality expeSee CAMP, page 9A GROWNEY MOTORS We Buy Used Cars paid for or not Daily News photo by Andre Byik Mendocino National Forest is proposing a change the rental structure of the Camp Discovery Group Camp at Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area. 1160 Main St. 527-1034