BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Layoffs and cuts from the county budget have been known for weeks, Tuesday the Board of Supervisors finalized those decisions.

After hearing public comment at a special meeting Monday night, the board began Tuesday morning approving the smaller county department's budget and subsequent cuts. Tuesday afternoon Tier One programs were on the agenda.

Shortly before 7pm Tuesday the board voted to adopt the budget, including using $7.09 million from the Fiscal Stability Reserve to cover some of the approved increases in expenditures as well as the new deficit the state created with its new budget agreement that was revealed Monday night.

"I'm not uncomfortable (with that) after having cut $100 million from our operating budget in the last six months, I think that's a reasonable thing," said Mike Maggard, District 3 Supervisors. "In an effort to sustain the minimum level of service to our constituents, I'm not uncomfortable with spending approximately $7.1 million of our stability reserve for this purpose."

During Monday night's public comment portion of the budget meetings, residents in the Lake Isabella area were outspoken about the closing of the Lake Isabella Senior Center.

After first going with the recommended cuts with the intention of coming back next month to re-examine what money would need to be spent, the board decided late in the evening to fund Parks & Recreation $200,000 to keep two facilities open, including the Lake Isabella Senior Center which Parks & Recreation Director Bob Lerude says is the most used facility in the county.

Another concern brought up Monday night was the 40 percent cut to County Libraries. Supervisors discussed reducing the cut to just 20% or about $300,000 earlier in the afternoon but decided to go with the staff's original recommendation. However, as the meeting came to a close supervisors approved the $300,000 in funding, which should keep libraries throughout the county, especially in more rural locations, from being closed more often than they are open.

The Kern County Fire Department requested an additional $2.3 million dollars to fund a fire academy to help replace 30 firefighters who will be retiring during the fiscal year. Supervisors scoffed at that idea, at least until the department looks to hire laid off firefighters from other jurisdictions that can easily fill those vacated positions or by using other retirees on a part time basis.

"If we do as you say, go outside and find firefighters who are already division one qualified, then we could hold off until March and not have those extraordinary costs from October through March, of the positions," said Fire Chief Nick Dunn.

However, the board did approve $550,000 for equipment for the fire department to help put five new fire engines into service. At the end of the day though 75 positions in the department will remain vacant due to the budget restraints.

The District Attorney's Office rescinded the layoffs of three DA investigators and three criminalists, due to savings within those departments and possibly an extra $62,000 dollars down the line from the board to help cover those positions. Several weeks ago DA Ed Jagels requested an additional $323,000 to rescind the three criminalist positions in order to keep the DA Forensic Lab up and running at acceptable levels.

The Kern County Sheriff's Department ended up with 41 detention deputies and 13 civilian staff layoffs, but 27 positions were saved thanks to the $4 million the sheriff received a few weeks back to keep the Lerdo Minimum Facility open.

There was also discussion about one of the sheriff's helicopters, where there had been discussion about selling the helicopter to another party or back to Bell. The county can send the helicopter back, with some added fees, but that means that Bell could pull the fixed wing aircraft sold to the county fire. Supervisors made no decision on the possible sale.

All told, Tuesday's budget actions will leave roughly 200 people laid off from the county and 740 or so positions being eliminated. Supervisors also closed the $7,099,840 deficit left by the state and now Kern County has a budget.