Being a visionary is something which should not be a quality left for those who are scientists, biologists, geologists (Kay Pitts) and the like, but something for all of us to consider. Seriously, our speaker for the morning, Lorelei Oviatt, explained that from where she sits, it pays to have a long-term community vision…based upon Kern County’s needs. According to Lorelei, this is easier said than done. Whether you realize it or not, others outside of the Golden Empire have a completely different perspective of what Kern County’s future should look like and it is in complete contrast to ours.
Okay, let me clear this up. Lorelei states that our two main industries, yes you got it, Oil and Ag are under attack. Alternative industries such as aerospace, and occupations associated with renewable industry are more attractive to the Sacramento legislature. She adds, some Sacramento visionaries have envisioned all industries and employees converting to green energy-type occupations. She claims this to be an unrealistic idea in the next couple of generations. The legislature, Lorelei reports, are active proponents of downsizing and in some cases curtailment of the two main industries that sustain the economy of Kern County. Lorelei tells us the irony of all of this that not only are oil and ag Kern County’s bedrock industries, they also are a financial boon to the State coffers as well. She said State legislature’s plan is summed up in two simple words, NO PLAN.
Regardless, of how one slices the pie, Lorelei says we are all stakeholders in Kern County’s future over the next 10 to 40 years. She suggests sending our vision and voice to legislators about how misbalancing our delicate industrial infrastructure would have catastrophic outcomes to Kern County residents. Jobs, property values, transportation, health care, availability of natural resources i.e. WATER, education, and of course tax revenues are all a part of this discussion and should be considered in long-range planning.
For those of you that like numbers, Lorelei shared these figures, Sacramento (the government) takes in $152 billion of revenue from Kern County oil production and a measly $20 billion from ag production. Without the benefits that Kern County enjoys from these industries, Lorelei said our Kern County budget would suffer a $90 million deficit. Yikes!
This conversation is not to say Lorelei and Kern County administrators are opposed to new ideas and industries, it is that the impact of drastic measures and elimination of major Kern County industries will affect all of us. Interesting how this sounds similar to the message we received a couple weeks ago from KC District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer.
Lorelei said there is still hope. She is hopeful that county administrators focus on making sure that changes from Sacramento are relevant to Kern County residents and create sustainable opportunities for all. She asks us to join Kern County leadership in promoting realistic and sensible planning for our future.