State Budget

Riverside County’s unemployment recently dipped below 10 percent, its lowest rate in 4 and a half years reported county and state officials. After examining the data from the job market in April of this year, state officials in the California Employment Development Department reported that the unemployment rate was 9.6 percent, an impressive drop from March’s 10.5 percent, and an even bigger drop compared to the 11.6 rate in April of last year.

San Mateo’s pension liabilities are out of control, according to a civil grand jury report released on Monday. While the San Mateo County Employees’ Retirement Association (SamCERA) had previously estimated the figure at around $1 billion, the grand jury says it’s closer to $2 billion once current economic conditions and investment performance are factored in. “The problem is huge,” said Jury Foreman Timothy Johnson Jr. “All the numbers are appalling.”

With the worst of the recent economic recession behind them, Los Angeles County officials say they will unveil a balanced budget for the first time in four years. County workers now want a piece of that pie and are demanding pay increases, which were out of the question during harder economic times.

Due to Ventura County's issues with productivity and increasing backlog, the city's financial board that oversees the County's $3.4 billion pension system voted 6-3 in favor of adding more government jobs. A handful of long-time administrators recently left the county, leaving many departments understaffed and underqualified for the work that needs to be done in the county administration.

In order to reward County Administrator Susan Muranishi for her service, Alameda County will be giving her a salary of $423,664 for the rest of her life. The numbers end up adding up. Muranishi receives a $301,000 base salary, but on top of that she is given a car allowance, bonuses for performance, and “longevity” pay due to her working for the county for over 30 years.