Features

Contra Costa may lose some
social services 

WALNUT CREEK – Contra Costa County’s budget deficit could wind up forcing the closure of homeless shelters, the elimination of a suicide crisis line and the end of a program that helps low-income families apply for health insurance. 

The county has asked its departments to make a list of possible cuts to make up for shortfalls in its retirement system. Proposed cuts also could reduce funds for transportation and welfare-to-work programs. 

Supervisor Mark DeSaunier called it the worst budget situation since 1992, but said the cuts are necessary. 

The supervisors were expected to review the cuts in health and human services Monday. 

Golden Gate Bridge tolls could
rise even further 

NOVATO – Golden Gate Bridge officials are applying for a federal grant to research whether toll adjustments could help ease snarled weekend traffic. 

Unlike most Bay Area bridges which jam on weekdays, the Golden Gate Bridge is at its busiest on weekends, when tourists and locals pack the burnt-orange span. 

Charging motorists different tolls based on the time of day may ease the bottleneck by prompting changes in travel schedules, said Mary Currie, a spokeswoman for the bridge district. 

In the end, it might mean a toll increase. 

Should the district decide to charge more during the busiest times, it could help ease a $441 million deficit looming over the next five years, Currie said. Another option would be to charge less for drivers who switch their crossings to hours when traffic typically is light. 

Tolls will already rise Sept. 1 from the current $3 to $5 for tolls paid in cash and $4 for users of the FasTrak electronic debit system. That increase is expected to trim the deficit by about $138 million. 

The grant to try a pilot program in congestion-based pricing would come from the Federal Highway Administration. Currie said the process is too preliminary to estimate the grant’s size. 

49ers can sell ads, but not stadium name 

San Francisco supervisors today handed the 49ers a partial victory, voting to grant the team the right to sell advertising – but not the name – for the city’s football stadium. 

A 5-5 tie on the naming rights issue sends the Niners’ deal with San Francisco’s Recreation and Park Department down to defeat, for a potential loss of around $900,000 a year in city revenue. 

But representatives of the 49ers said after today’s City Hall vote that they were willing to try again later. 

One supervisor, Gerardo Sandoval, was absent from today’s board meeting because he is on his honeymoon.