Despite more questions and debate about how much it will cost
the county
– and how they will pay for it – Santa Clara County supervisors
have officially approved March 31 as an official Cesar Chavez
holiday.
Despite more questions and debate about how much it will cost the county – and how they will pay for it – Santa Clara County supervisors have officially approved March 31 as an official Cesar Chavez holiday.
After considerable debate, county supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to declare the widely respected United Farm Workers founder and leader’s birthday an official county holiday – and a paid day off for most of the county’s nearly 16,000 employees.
Supervisor Blanca Alvarado, who sponsored the idea, called the holiday “a matter of principle and a matter of philosophy” and noted that it’s been a decade since Chavez’ death.
Alvarado’s district includes the East San Jose neighborhood known as Sal Si Puedes – or “get out if you can” in Spanish – where Chavez once lived.
“By taking this action, we’re saying that the work of Chavez is valuable,” she said. “His memory is valuable and the farmworkers whom he represented are valuable.”
Dissenting supervisors Don Gage, who represents South Valley, and Jim Beall have acknowledged that Chavez’s work and accomplishments were important, but they have questioned the financial timing of the move when the county faces a deficit that’s grown to as much as $160 million and could climb higher.
County staff estimated observing the holiday will cost an estimated $650,000 in overtime for 24-hour personnel who will work on the holiday. Payroll costs for a single day’s work for county employees run approximately $4.5 million.
Meanwhile, county Assessor Larry Stone told supervisors that he also supported recognition of Chavez, but said the new day off would threaten his ability to complete property tax assessments on time – a dilemma that could cost the county as much as $1.8 million in taxes that would not be billed because assessments would not be completed before a July 1 deadline. He asked the board to delay the holiday one year.
“Failure to close the assessment roll on time, with all assessable property included, will have serious financial consequences to local government agencies,” he wrote in a memo to the board.
The overtime costs will be absorbed by individual departments countywide after supervisors rejected a proposal to fund them with reserves.
The county joins the state government, five other counties and seven cities – including San Jose and Morgan Hill – in observing the holiday, according to county officials.
Alvarado is working with the Chavez family, the city of San Jose and several labor organizations to organize a march in Chavez’ honor. The tentative date is March 29.
