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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com The Lucy Legacy See Inside American Profile RED BLUFF Alumnus update Sports 1B Sunny 59/37 Weather forecast 8B By ANDREA WAGNER DN Staff Writer Local officials are watching and waiting to see if the resulting Cali- fornia budget for 2011 will include funding for the Williamson Act that could significantly impact the Tehama County budget. The Williamson Act is espe- cially important to rural landown- ers who benefit from its tax breaks that keep them in business as farm- ers and ranchers, said Charlie Fenske, senior appraiser at the Tehama County Assessor’s Office. Tehama County has roughly 1.9 million acres of land, Fenske said. Of those, nearly half, or 803,398 acres, falls under agricul- tural preservation, or the Williamson Act. DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Officials wait for word on Williamson Act The Williamson Act, initiated in the 1960s, is a three-way agree- ment between counties, the state and landowners, according to the State Department of Conservation (www.consrv.ca.gov). Landowners agree to forego any future development of non- agricultural or open space projects during the term of the contract in return for lower property taxes. Counties get advantages in planning, but lose the tax revenue. The state is supposed to give support, technical assistance, reso- lution of issues and policies, enforce contracts, prepare annual status reports and give local gov- ernments subvention reimburse- ments. In the 2009/2010 state budget, county subvention payments were reduced to merely $1,000 statewide to divide up among the counties. “For smaller rural counties, it’s very important because it goes right into the general fund,” Fenske said. “It’s a substantial part of the budget. To lose that — it hurts.” In Tehama County, land tax revenue is limited. Less than 20 percent of the land is fully taxable, Fenske said. Taxes are restricted or nonexistent for most county lands that fall under the Williamson act, government properties or timber reserve land. In 2010, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, pushed through a measure that restored $10 million, or roughly a quarter of previous funding of $38 million, to the Williamson Act subventions. Capping cancer The Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal, Jan. 11, eliminated the $10 million from the Williamson Act, and offered no conditions of future funding. District 4 Supervisor Bob Williams has been waiting to see if the proposed $10 million restored will be included in Brown’s final budget proposal. “Of the legislators that I have talked to, both Republican and Democrat, there is mutual belief that subvention money is impor- tant in keeping the Williamson Act alive and well,” Williams said. “The feeling is that the Williamson Act is the most successful, cost- effective conservation program ever created and that we need to do everything possible to continue its success.” Williams spoke with represen- tatives of the California State Association of Counties Wednes- day about the status of the act, he said. In that discussion, he under- stood that there is a budget sub- committee vote in favor of restor- ing the $10 million funding. “Of course, there are never any guarantees when it comes to deal- ing with the state, but my hope is that the Legislature can find anoth- er source of funding for this pro- gram that is vital to the rural Cali- fornia economy and environment,” Williams said. For now, everyone will just have to wait and see, he said. — For more Williamson Act coverage see page 8A. Some users upset over SmartMeters By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Pacific Gas and Electricity announced earlier this year its customers in Tehama County will become a part of the growing trend to replace analog meters with digital ones. Similar to other communities where PG&E has rolled out its SmartMeter Program, there are local customers who are unhappy about the change. Their biggest outcry is that the digital meters are being imposed on them. Resident Darlene Linch said she was less than thrilled when she received a letter from PG&E stating her meter would soon be replaced with a SmartMeter. She contacted PG&E and asked to be removed from the list. Her name was moved to the bottom of the list to delay the switchout, but PG&E said the change was inevitable. “What am I worth that they think they can just do this to me?” she said. “Where is my freedom of choice?” PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno said while customers cannot opt out of getting a SmartMeter, PG&E is willing to work with customers and address their reservations. “Often time, once we’ve had a conversation with the Courtesy photo Seniors at the Corning Senior Center have been busy as bees, knitting cancer caps in every color of the rainbow. President of the Board of Directors of the Corning Senior Center, Cathy Phillips and one of the many seniors knitting hats, Caroline Slater presented over thirty of the brightly colored caps to Maywood Woman's Club First Vice President Toni Miller, who announced that they would be delivered to the " Halo's for Hope" Program, of which the Maywood Woman's Club sponsors. Slater along with Jesse Lander of the Corning Senior Center have been instructing other seniors how to knit hats and scarfs and plan to make another presentation to Corning Christian Center Director Willie Smith to help fill the need for winter wear. The Senior Center has been accepting yarn donated from Corning residents and would like to thank the public for the many donations. customer they have a better understanding,” Moreno said. To date, 1,000 electric SmartMeters have been installed out of the approximately 14,000 customers in Red Bluff. Another 1,864 gas SmartMeters out of 8,000 have been installed. PG&E plans to have all local electric and gas cus- tomers converted to the digital system with a year. Resident Kathy Nelson was among one of the first to get a SmartMeter. She understands the need to convert from analog meters to SmartMeters, as it will help with the rolling out of the nation’s Smart Grid system, but she has some reservations, including an increase in her bill. Higher bills While customers may say there is an increase in their bill after they received a SmartMeter, Moreno said in actuality, differences in monthly bills are dependent on usage con- sumption. Changes in weather can contribute to increase usage. Whenever there is a change in season PG&E will get calls from customers about an increase in their bill, Moreno said. “That’s happened before SmartMeters and it happen with SmartMeters as well,” Moreno said. See UPSET, page 7A Hero Ride For Life seeks participants By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Northern California Hero Ride For Life organizers are gearing up for the third annual event, which is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at the Tehama District Fairground and are looking for help. “We are in search of team participants, spon- sors and donations for our raffle,” said Co- founder Bailey Brown- field. “We hope that you will join us on April 2.” The event, started in 2009 as a 4-H Emerald Star Project by Jessica Macdonald and Brown- field, has raised about $60,000 in the first two years. “In 2010 we were overwhelmed by the support that our com- munity poured out through donation as well as participants,” Macdonald said. “2010 brought us about 211 riders that rode the track at the Tehama District Fairground in Red Bluff.” In 2010 alone, the event donated $32,000 to the American Cancer Society, Macdonald said. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 The event is co-spon- sored by the Northern California Reined Cow Horse Association and was the second ever in the nation with the first being held in 2004 by Holly LaCount in Hum- boldt County. “HERO Ride For Life opens up a whole new opportunity for bringing together an untouched group of people under one cause,” Macdonald said. “Never before have horse people of every discipline been able to join together and fight for one cause.” Teams of five to eight people and their horses will take turns riding the fairground racetrack at a walk to raise money that will aid in the fight against cancer. “The relay reminds us that progress has been made in the fight against cancer and that everyone who partici- pates is making a differ- ence,” Brownfield said. Taylor Collins, who joined Macdonald and Brownfield in helping to organize the event in 2010 and new comer Holly Rice will be help- ing to organize the 2011 event. The event will open and close with a walk of silence as everyone joins together in a lap of remembrance and to signify everyone com- ing together for an important cause, Mac- donald said. A sur- vivor’s lap will immedi- See RIDE, page 7A Courtesy photo The Shasta College team riding was the high money raiser for the 2010 Ride For Life. The 2011 event will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 2 at the Tehama District Fairground. ATTENTION !!! Painful corns? WHO needs them! We can PERMANENTLY Remove these with very little pain Minimal down time. Most insurances cover. Call for info! DR. John Swaim, DPM (530) 527-7584 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR Smog Inspection $ 2595 + cert. (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841