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WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2012 www.redbluffdailynews.com See Inside Breaking news at: A Castle is Their Home Draft American Profile RED BLUFF Decisions SPORTS 1B Sunny 92/61 Weather forecast 8A 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 Public works gets boost State probes Nielsen gift MediaNews Group SACRAMENTO — The state is investigating accu- sations that Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, and Assembly candidate Bob Williams violated campaign- finance laws in the primary election. In a letter to a consultant of 3rd District Assembly- man Dan Logue, R-Loma Rica, the state Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) stated last week it had begun an investigation in the case. Williams, a Tehama County supervisor, ran unsuc- cessfully for the 3rd District Assembly seat in the pri- mary. Logue who finished first in the race, filed a com- See GIFT, page 7A Left: For every $100 a Tehama County resident pays in property taxes, about $18.74 goes to the county with the other $81.26 going to county fire, schools and the state of California. Right: Tehama County's $18.74 is spent in the following matter: $9.44 to public safety, $7.88 to general fund departments, $0.70 to social services, $0.50 to health services, $0.22 to trail court contribution. By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer Tehama County Supervisors passed a recommended 2012-13 fis- cal year budget Tuesday that includes a 9.2 percent increase in spending from the prior year, large- ly due to public works projects. The approved budget provides for $167 million in spending and outside the public works appropria- tions remains largely the status quo to recent budgets. "Despite the prolonged econom- ic recession, Tehama County main- tains a sound fiscal condition, due in large part to actions the Board has taken," Chief Administrator Bill Goodwin wrote in a budget report. Since the 2008-09 fiscal year, is entirely attributed to revenue bud- geted within public works. Without that department's increase in rev- enues there would have been a $1.5 million decrease. Public works projects planned for the fiscal year include the already started work at Bowman at South Fork in Cottonwood as well as preventative maintenance on bridges, the Hall and Hoag Roads intersection, Rancho Tehama curve realignment, San Benito curve realignment, Bowman Safe Routes to Schools project, the Hall Road and South Avenue intersection, South Avenue shoulder widening and the Gerber Road and San Beni- to Avenue intersection. budget reductions have saved the county around $3.8 million. The county workforce has decreased by around 6 percent since 2007-08 staffing levels. Revenues across all government funds increased 5.1 percent from the year prior, although the growth The general fund includes a $150,000 appropriation to complete an Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan and an increased cash match for the 3Core Economic Development Dis- trict in the amount of $6,500. Nine capital projects have been leader in southern Ore. out of 2 jobs Public radio MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Ron Kramer, longtime head of Jefferson Public Radio, ends his run this week. ern Oregon University, dismissed him last month as executive director of the network heard in large parts of southern Oregon and Northern California. Kramer also decided to His employer, South- Public Radio stations, the foundation others. An audit by the Oregon leave his job as head of JPR's fundraising founda- tion to avoid personal exposure to lawsuits threatened by the univer- sity. Both actions are effective Friday, the Med- ford Mail Tribune (http://bit.ly/KBIzf0 ) reported. Kramer has led the radio operation since 1974, five years after it started. It broadcasts from a basement at the univer- sity. He's run the founda- tion since 1997, embark- ing on initiatives such the restoration of old theaters in Redding, Calif., and Medford that are at the center of the dispute. The university owns some of the Jefferson university system ques- tioned Kramer's dual roles, such as his ability to sign contracts for both entities, and said the non- radio ventures put the radio operation and the university at risk. University President Mary Cullinan said he was out of the radio job effective June 30 but could remain as head of the foundation. Other projects include the replacement of the jail roof and construction of an agricultural cen- ter to house departments that will be relocated due to the construction of a the new court house facility. The latter of which will be funded by proceeds from the sale of county property to the state. Tehama County will be receiv- ing $2.4 million in the upcoming fiscal year to handle the local supervisions of offenders realigned from the state as part of AB 109. The amount is nearly double of what was received the previous year. house windows. That work is scheduled to begin in late August and includes lead paint abatement and replacing all windows on the west, north and east sides of the building. budgeted in with the most notable being the replacement of court- expected to see its role in AB 109 realignment plans grow moving for- ward by providing Moral Recona- tion Therapy to the offender popu- lation. The Health Services Agency is Fairboard to move on joint agreement By JULIE ZEEB Tonya Redamonti announced Tuesday that a meeting Monday in Sacramento with state officials has the fairboard ready to move forward on a Joint Powers Authority with Tehama County. Over the past six months, an ad-hoc com- mittee, on which Reda- monti has represented the fairboard, has met several times to discuss ways to deal with Gov. Jerry Brown's elimination of all state funding for fairs. A cut of $200,000 to the Tehama District Fair- ground, equivalent to 25 percent of its budget. Redamonti, Tehama County Supervisor Den- DN Staff Writer Fairboard Director nis Garton and Chief Administrator Bill Good- win went to Sacramento and met with Assembly- man Jim Nielsen and Sen. Doug LaMalfa. "They really are behind us," Redamonti said. "They like the idea of bringing control back within the county and community. They have said they will write a let- ter of support when we get ready to submit things to the state." state officials from the Department of Food and Agriculture and from the division of Fairs and Expositions, including general counsel, she said. "It's exciting when the head of legal counsel tells us it can be done," Reda- The group met with See JOINT, page 7A RBPD swears in new officer By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Red Bluff Police intro- duced the newest member of the department, Officer Ruben Murgia, Monday at a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall. Since then, political leaders led by Gov. John Kitzhaber stepped in to cool tensions that includ- ed letters from the univer- sity's lawyers talking of expensive legal action and talk of a mass resignation among foundation board members. Both sides agreed to mediation, but Kramer said he won't take part. ''Until June 30, I am a Holding his 20-month- old daughter, Eden, Murgia was pinned by his wife of two years, Shawntay, with a room full of relatives, city officials and fellow mem- bers of the department looking on. Murgia, who is very tall, made Police Chief Paul Nanfito look short and even one of the department's taller members, Sgt. Kevin Busekist, only came up to Murgia's shoulders. The son of Joe and Sylvia Murgia of Chico, Murgia comes to Red Bluff with three years of experi- ence working for the Tule Lake Police Department. "The police department chief at Tule Lake had nothing but good things to say about Ruben and we expect good things from him," Nanfito said. Murgia, who has always university employee working within the scope of my assigned responsi- bilities,'' Kramer said. ''On July 1, as a private citizen I would potentially be subject to the same legal harassment with which the entire Founda- tion board has been 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See RADIO, page 7A wanted to be a police offi- cer, chose Red Bluff because it is closer to his family and he is looking forward to becoming a part of the community, he said. He received his training from Butte Community Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Red Bluff Police Chief Paul Nanfito, right, reminds Red Bluff Police Officer Ruben Murgia Monday at his swearing in ceremony at City Hall that he is one of 33 with the right to wear the Red Bluff Police Department patch. College. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.c om. Follow her on Twitter @DN_Zeeb. CARE TO COMMENT? At redbluffdailynews.com, scroll to the end of any story, click the link and type away. PHYSICIAN REFERRAL A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 1-800-990-9971