Supes Vasquez & Regan give Vaca chamber rosy report

Article Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 03, 2005 - 11:20:36 pm PDT

Supes give Vaca chamber rosy report

By Christine Cubé

VACAVILLE - County spending and its budget should contain no surprises in the upcoming fiscal year, Solano County supervisors assured the Vacaville business community Tuesday.

Supervisor John Vasquez praised the county's ability to "live within our means." Vasquez represents the 4th District, including parts of Vacaville and Fairfield.

"Solano County is one of the best-funded counties in the state and we're pretty proud of that," he said.

Supervisor Mike Reagan, who represents the 5th District including Dixon and Suisun City, joined Vasquez. Before taking questions from members of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, the supervisors talked about issues regarding Nut Tree Airport, agriculture preservation, transportation, and executive salaries and job recruitment.

County leaders recently loaned $1.8 million to Nut Tree Airport to allow the facility to acquire 15.6 acres of future expansion space. Federal legislators also earmarked about $1 million to enable the airport to start much-needed infrastructure improvements.

Vasquez and Reagan agreed the airport is an economic engine for the county that needs more attention. Among some of the possible changes there include a different management structure or privatization of the airport.

"That's one of the things we have to look at," Vasquez said. "I don't care who runs it as long as it's run well."

Management consultants are currently working with the airport to look at where there is room to change. The study is due within the next six to eight months.

"We're looking at a pretty dramatic change in what's happening out there," Reagan said.

In other business, the supervisors took on the discussion of executive salaries.

Vasquez and Reagan sit on a personnel committee that's in the process of awarding a contract to look at how the county competes with other jurisdictions with regard to appropriate salaries and income. The study is expected to come out in October.

They agreed the county must pay competitive wages to hire the right people for various jobs.

"Putting a value on someone's efforts is always a balance," Vasquez said.

Reach Christine Cubé at 427-6934 or ccube@dailyrepublic.net.