Mariposa County is in far better financial shape than many other California jurisdictions, but things aren’t so great that the County wasn’t forced to use some of its reserves to balance the mid-year budget. The board of supervisors approved the mid-year adjustments at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

County Administrative Officer (CAO) Rick Benson said the mid-year process gives the County the opportunity to take a look at how the budget is performing. The second look is necessary “because circumstances have changed,” Benson explained.

The state’s dismal financial situation appears to be the culprit in many of the changes the County must make. Still, local problems are miniscule in comparison to other places. “Numerous counties have to come to the board and tell them they’re off track,” and must institute layoffs and furloughs, Benson said. “I’m very glad I don’t need to do that.”

Benson said the budget is performing well in terms of expenditures, as all departments are operating within their means. “We’re running right on track,” he said.

The adjustments to the budget amount to $278,857 following the board’s approval. Benson had recommended the board dip into its contingency for $228,857. Board members ultimately approved that and increased revenue projects in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), with the extra $50,000 going to the Mariposa- Yosemite Tourism Bureau.

Benson said the County now has about $145,000 left in contingency, an amount he called “precariously low.” The CAO said the amount “will get us through the year.” State changes in funding, however, could “affect Mariposa drastically,” Benson warned the board.

The board entered into lengthy discussion about the items that contributed to the adjustments, including unanticipated spending to fix heavy equipment in the public works department and the decline in sales tax revenue. The state is also deferring payment for the May, 2009, special election that cost the County nearly $70,000.

District 3 Supervisor Janet Bibby thanked department heads. “You’ve been holding the line,” she said. “It’s been a county-wide effort.” Bibby said difficult times are not over. “It’s going to be even more important that we keep everything very tight,” she said.

Supervisor Jim Allen asked about TOT numbers and suggested the projections be increased to help return the $100,000 that was cut from the tourism bureau at budget adoption.

Benson said he realized his projections were conservative, but stood by them. “It’s better to be pleasantly surprised than to ratchet down later,” he said.

Board Chairman Kevin Cann said the mid-year budget process isn’t just about tweaking the current figures. “It’s a time we have to look to the future,” he said. “The national economy remains in a tizzy. We cut tourism when our TOT was holding strong. We need to review these cuts.”

Cann said hotel bookings are up by 20 to 40 percent from last April. “I don’t want this board to hold our breath and think things will magically get better,” Cann said. “We don’t have the luxury of a wait and see attitude in tourism. Tourism pays the bills.”

Tourism Bureau Executive Director Jeff Hentz asked the board to restore the funds that were cut. “We do need these funds. We need to market aggressively, and these funds would allow us to do that.”

Hentz said that as the travel market gets more competitive, his office must work harder to reach potential visitors. “TOT is trending ahead very nicely, but there are still a lot of wild cards. We still haven’t identified as an industry what the new normal is.”

Vice President of Yosemite Motels Kevin Shelton said the bureau’s efforts are paying off big. “Our numbers are higher than last year,” he told the board, noting that advanced bookings are up 39 percent at Cedar Lodge. “A lot of it is our partnership with the tourism bureau.”

Shelton urged the board to restore full funding to the agency. “Our success is your success,” he said of the hospitality industry.

Allen agreed. “We can invest in different things and never see this kind of return,” he said of the bureau’s efforts to date. “I’ve never seen such a thing in my life. I’m sold.”

It was Allen who made the motion to approve Benson’s proposal and added the increase to TOT projections to fund half of what was cut from the bureau. The motion passed 4-1. Bibby cast the lone dissention, saying she “reluctantly” opposed.

“This is not an easy decision,” Bibby said. “It would be easy for me to throw caution to the wind, but I can’t do that.”