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Board approves $1.2 million from compensated‑absences reserve for sheriff’s payouts after split budget committee vote
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a request from the sheriff’s office to use $1.2 million from the county’s compensated‑absences assignment to cover accrued leave payouts, despite objections from one supervisor who said the fund was intended for one‑time uses and should be replenished before being spent down.
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 April 15 to allow the sheriff’s office to use about $1.2 million from the county’s compensated‑absences assignment to pay separation payouts (vacation/leave buyouts) for departing sheriff’s office employees.
The request had split the county’s Budget Committee earlier; Supervisor Catherine Askew opposed moving the item forward without additional information about why the department could not cover the payouts in its operating budget and raised concerns about using a one‑time reserve for ongoing liabilities. “Once these dollars are gone, they’re gone,” Askew said, urging caution about spending reserves that had been set aside in part to leverage state and federal funds.
What the fund is and how it was used The compensated‑absences assignment was established more than a decade ago to help cover the county’s accumulated liability for unused vacation and other leave. County staff told the board the fund previously included about $12.7 million and that the overall countywide liability for compensated absences was roughly $50 million. Departments can use salary savings and other resources to cover staff departures, but the sheriff requested the reserve to cover a large, near‑term payout.
Board debate Supporters of the request argued the fund’s original purpose was to cover exactly this kind of departmental need. Supervisor Daniels, who represents a largely rural district that includes many county facilities, said she supported approving the request and noted that the reserve historically had been used in similar circumstances.
Opponents urged a broader budget policy review. Askew said the county should instead address ongoing obligations in the main operating budget and avoid using one‑time reserves for recurring costs. Supervisor Church objected to committee items arriving on the consent calendar after split committee votes and asked for clearer documentation from the Budget Committee in future.
Outcome and follow up The motion passed 4–1; Supervisor Askew voted no. The board directed staff to bring a broader discussion of the compensated‑absences assignment and related budget policies during the county’s upcoming budget hearings so the board can decide whether to change the reserve’s rules, replenishment policy or use criteria.
Why this matters Monterey County, like many local governments, faces significant accumulated leave liabilities as long‑time employees retire or depart. A drawdown of a designated reserve to cover payouts can ease short‑term budget pressure but shifts the question of replenishment to future budgets; supervisors said they want policy clarity on whether this reserve should be treated as evergreen, replenished annually, or reserved for exceptional, one‑time events only.
Ending The board’s vote allows the sheriff’s office to process the separation payouts but put the larger policy question about how to manage compensated‑absences liability back on the board’s upcoming budget calendar.
