Budget Time

Budget time for the county is upon us once again and until now there has been no public mention of making a new budget or a Budget Committee Meeting scheduled to address the issue of a new budget for the county.
It seems that once again the pattern for making a county budget is waiting until the last minute and push a little thought out budget through hurriedly with very little time for debate. The citizens of this county deserve more.
For the past few years the County has failed to submit a balanced budget relying on the use of reserves to fill in the gaps of more than a million dollars each year. Now the reserves are down to near the minimum acceptable to the state. County spending has continued to increase in spite of a claimed, but totally bogus and unsubstantiated, 10% reduction last year.
What will be the remedy for this year’s lack of spending discipline? On election night we heard the solution offered by a newly re-elected long time commissioner, “we have to raise taxes”. Before the election this was an idea strongly denied by most candidates but since the election what I had predicted is openly discussed among some officials, a property tax increase and a wheel tax is on the near horizon.
As I did before the election and before the last budget was made I requested suggestion on how to best deal with the County Budget.
For me a tax increase is not necessary and any new tax is detestable. What is needed is planning and spending discipline to cut a minimum of 20% off last year’s budget or even better start at zero with a budget and build from there, justifying each expenditure and employee.

Below are some suggestions that would help prevent a property tax increase, fee increase and creation of a Wheel Tax. Please add your suggestions and thoughts.

1) CUT COMMISSIONERS PAY FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS 33% FROM 30.00 AND 15.00 TO 20.00 AND 10.00 AND MAKE THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT CAN BE RECEIVED PER DAY. Currently Commissioners are paid for each Committee Meeting they attend. As a member of a committee one could collect $30.00 then in less than ten minutes collect another $15.00 for attending a different meeting as a non member. I have seen Commissioners come to a meeting late and leave the next one early signing in for both and being paid for both.

2) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE BY TWO PEOPLE OR JUSTIFY THEIR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT THERE. If all employees were required to work a forty hour week would there be a need for the extra personnel.

3) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE BY AT LEAST ONE OR JUSTIFY THEIR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT THERE. Salaries should be reevaluated in the Financial Management Office and if all benchmarks set for employees have not been met salaries should be reduced.

4) CUT THE PAY OF THE DIRECTOR AND ASST. DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL MANAGENMENT BY 5% OR SHOW WHERE THEY HAVE BENEFITED THE COUNTY BY MEANS OF COST SAVING MEASURES.

5) CUT THE SECTERARY POSITION AT THE AMBULANCE OFFICE. The new recording system has made the position obsolete.

6) CUT EVERY DEPARTMENT BY 20% UNLESS THEY CAN FULLY JUSTIFY THEIR BUDGET. That 20% should be off the total of their last year’s budget and not just one portion of their budget. Last year some departments increased their budget by up to 30% overall while claiming they had cut 10%. The County Executive’s Office is a perfect example of this situation.

7) REORGANIZE THE CUSTODIAL SERVICES FOR THE COURT HOUSE AND CUT THE AMOUNT OF CONTRACTED SERVICES. All custodian personnel should be performing duties associated with their job description not traveling about town and delivering mail. Do away with everything in the break room except a table, chairs and a microwave. There is no necessity for a computer for custodial staff.

8) REORGANIZE THE SECURITY DETAIL AT THE COURTHOUSE. STAFF THE COURTS AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND PUT THE OTHER DEPUTIES ON PATROL. Any deputy not scheduled to be in the court room should be either at the jail or on patrol.

9) INVENTORY AND SALE ALL EXCESS COUNTY PROPERTY THAT CARRIES A LIABILITY. If it’s not making money is it needed and if it’s costing the county through insurance or other expenses get rid of it.

10) LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SICK LEAVE AN EMPLOYEE CAN TAKE AND PREVENT HIRING A REPLACEMENT AND PAYING BOTH FOR THE SAME JOB
There is no legitimate reason for an employee to be on sick leave for a year instead of on disability and it is beyond reason to hire someone as a replacement unless the person they are replacing is taken off the roles.

11) REDUCE TO THE LOWEST ALLOWABLE AMOUNT BY LAW THE FUNDING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. Only contribute as specific opportunities advance, in other words stop paying for nothing.

12) CUT FUNDING TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BY 25%. If an entity can’t show specific programs and how they have helped the county then cut the funding.

13) ESTABLISH AN INSURANCE COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE EVERY INSURANCE EXPINDITURE THAT INVOLVES COUNTY FUNDS

14) REQUIRE A DAILY LOG BE KEPT ON THE USE OF EACH COUNTY VEHICLE AND MONITOR THAT LOG’S ACCURACY EACH WEEK. PERSONAL USE OF COUNTY VEHICLES MUST BE PROHIBITED AND REIMBERSEMENTS MADE ALONG WITH REPRIMANDS FOR VIOLATIONS.

There are other ways of creating savings, these are starters, add your suggestions and thoughts. The County must be made financially secure with a balanced budget and healthy reserves without imposing a greater tax burden on the citizens who already are struggling with rising gas, utilities, food, medical, clothing and federal taxes along with decreasing jobs and wages.
For those who believe we should pay more in taxes, may I suggest that at anytime you choose you can make voluntary contributions to the county, city, state or federal government..