Pot ’o money

On Tuesday (Dec. 9), the Butte County Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized spending nearly a half-million dollars toward the added costs of code enforcement anticipated with the recent passage of Measure A, a stricter medical marijuana cultivation ordinance than the county formerly had in place.

Director of Development Services Tim Snellings explained that reduced sizes of grow areas and relaxed limitations on who can file complaints likely will lead to more calls for service. Snellings asked the board to allocate $446,500 from the general fund for contingencies, including money for additional personnel, vehicles and an educational campaign called “Stay in the Box” to inform growers of new regulations. Of the money allocated, $30,000 is budgeted toward instituting an online, cellphone-friendly complaint system.

About 60 percent of Butte County voters approved Measure A in November.