Retirement costs top supervisors' agenda

Skyrocketing retirement costs, a wind energy project and an additional method for keeping tighter tabs on onshore oil facilities are slated to be discussed today at what appears to be another marathon meeting for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

In preparation for the fiscal year 2009-10 budget, the supervisors will receive a report describing how severely strained future budgets will be because of rising retirement costs.

The county's contributions will increase from 23 percent of total payroll to approximately 35 percent by July 2010, according to projections by the county's actuary, Bill Hallmark.

Required county contributions are expected to increase from approximately $76 million to between $93 million and $105 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which starts July 1, Hallmark predicted.

From 10 to 17 percent of the entire county budget would then be dedicated to funding retirement costs.

Changing the benefit structure is an option for managing costs, but it is subject to collective bargaining, legal requirements and the will of the Board of Supervisors.

The proposed wind energy project is before the board because two appeals were filed - by Lompoc area residents George and Cheryl Bedford and the California Department of Fish and Game - after it was approved by the county Planning Commission in September.

As it stands, the project was given the green light for a maximum of 65 wind turbines that reach nearly 400 feet high on the windy ridges southwest of Lompoc. There would also be various related facilities and a PG&E power line running from the project to Lompoc.

The state Department of Fish and Game was concerned with bird and bat deaths that are common to wind turbines, but in December agency representatives said a compromise with the developer was in the works.

The 3,000 acres of leased agricultural land is bordered on the south and west by Vandenberg Air Force Base property, and on the north and east by privately owned agricultural property.

The Bedfords, whose home and property border the wind farm, have appealed on the grounds that environmental requirements have not been met.

The appeal also said the plan violates various county policies, such as intruding on the public view , construction on a ridgeline and noise levels, said Richard Adam, attorney for the family.

"The size of these structures cannot be overrated," Adam said. "They're taller than the Statue of Liberty and each blade is the length of a Boeing 747 wingspan or half a football field."

The maximum number of wind turbine generators would create an estimated 285 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the electrical usage of 40,000 to 50,000 households.

In a separate matter to be heard at the 9 a.m. board meeting at the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria, the supervisors will consider consolidating all oil facility operational oversight under the Energy Division of the Planning and Development Department.

The task of overseeing oil production in the county has been split between the Petroleum unit for onshore facilities and the Energy Division for offshore.

The Energy Division would "aggressively implement the Fire and Petroleum codes," for onshore facilities as it has been doing for offshore oil production, according to the staff report presented to the supervisors.

The program would cost $377,000 annually with a one-time cost of $25,000 to provide the additional positions needed for the stepped up inspections.

The public can address the board in person or by using the remote audio and video equipment at hearing room on the fourth floor of the county Administration Building at 105 E. Anapamu St.