Supervisors receive preview of next year’s county budget

The Board of Supervisors received an update on the county’s financial status, showing that many years of cautious budgeting have put the county in an excellent position to weather the current economic volatility at the state and national levels while still being able to invest in new community services and projects.

Chief Executive Officer Luther Snoke and Chief Financial Officer Matthew Erickson said that when the 2024-25 recommended county budget is published later this month it will propose $373.8 million in support to the county’s efforts to serve the homeless, public safety and economic development initiatives, disaster preparedness, infrastructure, community projects, and the county’s emergency funds.

Snoke and Erickson credited the board’s longstanding practice of underestimating future revenues and overestimating risks for making it possible to maintain and expand services and programs and save money for future initiatives and unexpected needs despite state budget cuts and a struggling economy.

The public can stay up to date on the 2024-25 county budget process by visiting https://main.sbcounty.gov/about-cao/finance/.

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 Armendarez, Hagman spearhead museum upgrades

The board approved a proposal initiated by Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez and Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman to help revitalize the Cooper Museum in Upland.

The Cooper Museum Renovation Project will provide enriching and educational opportunities for residents in Upland and the surrounding areas by helping to preserve local history, including the history of the indigenous Gabrieleno Tongva Indian tribe, and offering school tours and free admission to the public.

The county will invest $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the replacement of the museum’s patio area, flooring, outdoor kitchen remodeling, pressure washing of the building exterior, and installation of security lighting.

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Board approves Baca, Jr., plan to give Bloomington field a big-league upgrade

The board is bringing a big-league feel to a Little League field in Bloomington’s Kessler Park.

Supervisors approved plans and specifications for the Kessler Park Dream Field Project and authorized Public Works – Special Districts to solicit competitive bids for the work.

Supported by $2.3 million in funds allocated to Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., for projects within his Fifth District, the project consists of demolishing, replacing and upgrading the existing Ballfield No. 2 and adding synthetic turf, improved dugouts, new bleachers with shade, a scoring/announcing stand and a new electronic scoreboard. The overall design intent is to bring a “big league” theme and feel to a Little League facility, making it a “Dream Field.”

Kessler Park is the home field of the Bloomington Little League. The park was originally constructed in 2006, and two additional fields were subsequently added in 2016.

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Board honors accomplished physician in naming ARMC trauma center

The board voted to name the trauma center at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in honor of Dev A. Gnanadev, M.D., an influential figure in the development of ARMC and healthcare and education in San Bernardino County.

Dr. Gnanadev has been serving the people of San Bernardino County for over 43 years. He worked with the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency (ICEMA) and the American College of Surgeon (ACS) to create a dedicated Trauma Center at the San Bernardino County Medical Center, ARMC’s predecessor, and became the founding director of the Trauma Center in 1982. In addition, he played a key role in the development and growth of the Trauma Center when ARMC was established in Colton in 1999. Under Dr. Gnanadev’s leadership, ARMC’s Trauma Center has become one of the region’s busiest adult trauma centers.

Dr. Gnanadev served as the Director of the County’s Trauma Center from October 1982 to June 2000, and has served as the Chairman of the Department of Surgery since 1988. He was instrumental to ARMC’s success in achieving the ICEMA and ACS designation as a Level 1 Trauma Center in 2022. The Level 1 designation is the highest level of designation recognized by ICEMA and the ACS, meaning that ARMC has been verified to be capable of providing total care for every aspect of injury.

As a Level 1 Trauma Center, ARMC is also recognized as having the ability to treat the most seriously injured patients.


Additional County Update News – May 9, 2024