Commissioners trim $2.5 million from budget

County commissioners presented elected officials and department heads with recommendations Thursday to trim a $2.5 million deficit which would balance the county's $123 million 2010-11 budget.

While commissioners told departments how much to cut, they left to their discretion where the money would be saved.

"We've known this is the direction we would have to go," said Commissioner Nancy McDermid. "We're not going to say how to do it. We're going to say this the money you're getting - what we have. It's up to you how you deal with it. It's not a new story. It's just not a pleasant thing."

The board looked to Vice Chairman Dave Brady, a financial adviser, to come up with the recommendations.

He said the goal of his recommendations was to insure the county's financial strength.

"These are challenging times," Brady said. "We believe the situation today is not time certain. It could go on a couple more years."

Recommendations approved by the board included:

-- $879,500 from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office budget of $15.25 million;

-- $324,050 from the District Courts 1 and 2 budget of $3.6 million;

-- $348,000 from the county manager and county commissioners' departments budget of $9.5 million;

-- $62,400 from Tahoe Justice Court budget of $515,822;

-- $54,600 from East Fork Justice Court budget of $1 million;

-- $41,000 from county constable budget of $413,963;

-- $55,000 from the assessor's office budget of $742,000;

-- $52,300 from the recorder's office budget of $580,550;

-- $65,300 from the clerk-treasurer's office budget of $1.5 million;

The board also voted to reduce the county contingency fund to 1.5 percent for a savings of $521,550.

Commissioner Greg Lynn said he would prefer to cut hours or furlough employees rather than undergo layoffs.

He said that was not possible when dealing with employee bargaining associations.

"Where we would prefer to go rather than layoffs is to see some element of fairness - rolling back hours or furloughs," Lynn said. "Ideally, I would like to see merits removed along with salary hikes. There's no fat left. At some point in time the public sector must more closely reflect the society that supports it."

Undersheriff Paul Howell said Friday the cuts in the sheriff's office would come from salary savings and the year's allocation for vehicle expenditures.

"We're fortunate we will not have to lay people off," Howell said. "We're not buying any cars next year. None of it's good, but it's what we have to do."

He said the salary savings were generated by the retirements of higher paid officers whose positions were filled by less-tenured employees.

He said most of the department's vehicles were replaced at 92,000-100,000 miles, but would stay in use until 150,000 miles.

"We're going to have to pay very close attention so our officers are not in a bad situation safety-wise," Howell said.

Last year, the sheriff's office cut $665,000 from its budget with layoffs of clerical personnel and leaving positions open for two deputies and an investigator.

Howell said Friday the department was able to fill the officers' positions. He said he's in the hiring process to bring the department back to its full complement of officers which is below the national average for population.

"If we have to cut sworn positions out of the budget, it affects levels of service and officer safety," Howell said.

Howell took exception with suggestions that the county employees are overpaid.

"Public employees didn't create the financial crisis," he said. "Their benefits aren't excessive and they are not getting exorbitant salaries."

Commissioners are set to adopt the budget at a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. May 17. By law, the county must forward a balanced budget to the state by June 1.

ON THE WEB

2010-11 Douglas County budget presentation

http://www.douglascountynv.gov