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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > May > 11 > Entry
County argues furloughs, faces $6 million hole
Forecasting revenue shortfalls of up to $6 million, Butler County commissioners describe the county’s budget as a patient suffering with swine flu.
“We’re past the flu-like symptoms,” said County Administrator Tim Williams. “We’re right now confined to bed.”
Williams suggested several potential shots in the arm at a meeting with elected officials and finance officers from across county government Monday, May 11.
Ideas include furloughs of the county’s 2,200 employees — perhaps eliminating paid holidays — cutting healthcare benefits by 10 percent, freezing non-union pay increases and opening pay negotiations with unions.
This could cut expenses by more than $4 million, Williams said, and the county could dip into its cash reserves for the rest.
Pushback came from Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter, who said her office is already understaffed and the county should eliminate duplication of services before forcing her employees to shoulder the cuts.
“Until we try everything, I’m 100 percent against doing anything that takes money out of the pockets of the employees that work so hard in Butler County,” Carpenter said to applause from her employees in the audience.
And without concessions from unions, it would be unfair to force cuts on non-union staff, argued Domestic Relations Court Judge Sharon Kennedy, who said many of the courts’ employees can’t legally organize.
County Auditor Roger Reynolds said the county should have planned for such an emergency. And with a budget that has grown from roughly $70 million in 2002 to more than $90 million now, there was ample opportunity for saving, he said.
“We need to look at how did we get to this point,” Reynolds said. “I understand we can’t change the past, but we can learn from it.”
But the prognosis is dire, Williams said, with sales tax revenues for May potentially plummeting 20 percent from last year. And if cuts aren’t enacted soon, he said the county could be in a fiscal emergency within months.
And commissioners countered that they’re stuck with union contracts, and furloughs may be painful, but not as much as layoffs.
The county has already eliminated 63 positions, cut $4.1 million from its budget and dipped into reserves once this year to address an earlier shortfall of $7 million. But the recession has since become a “pandemic,” Williams said.
Commissioners said they’re open to suggestions, and gave officeholders until June 1 to put forward their own prescription.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County
Comments
By Ann
May 11, 2009 8:03 PM | Link to this
Comparing your financial mismanagement to a illness that has killed people is a little crude, Mr. Williams.
By Alan
May 12, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this
Although comparing the commissioners (current and past) to Swine is entirely fitting. Feed the Pig(s).
By navy vet
May 12, 2009 5:18 PM | Link to this
Look into the mirror, you have only yourselves to blame. Welcome back to reality cowboy’s.
By Lewis
May 12, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this
The mismanagement of this county by our elected and appointed officials has gone on far too long. Lies, trickery, back-room deals, nepotism, wasteful spending, overpaid department heads, and other such blatant disregard for accountability has become the norm here in Butler Co. If furloughs become a reality, every single person receiving a pay check from Butler County should have to take one, not just the so-called “workers.” Elected and appointed officials should hold themselves accountable for once. Right now, they are all up there pointing the finger of blame at each other and trying to come up with a scapegoat for this financial mess. The only real solution is to start trimming the fat (period). Take out the personalities and face reality. There is so much waste. Cuts have to be made!