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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > May > 29 > Entry
Butler County budget update
Butler County is still sitting in a $6 million budget hole with no clear path out of it.
County Administrator Tim Williams said he has talked to several officeholders who proposed minor cuts, but nothing to fix the gaping shortfall created by tax declines and poorly performing county investments.
In a letter to officeholders sent out Friday, May 29, Williams implores officeholders to submit suggestions by Friday, June 5, to cut general fund expenditures by at least 5 percent this year.
The letter also mentions measures other governments have taken. This largely includes across-the-board cuts, union concessions, voluntary furloughs and layoffs.
Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter said she is drafting a slough of small changes that she believes could save the county between $10,000 and $400,000.
“(The ideas include) not necessarily cutting out things, but putting in place a management structure that is more likely to cause efficient, well thought out management,” she said.
But this would take time, and Williams said the county could be in a fiduciary lurch within months if it doesn’t act soon.
Commissioners have their own ideas: furloughs of the county’s 2,200 employees, cutting health care benefits, freezing non-union pay and opening negotiations with all unions.
So far, these are all just concepts. A bill that would allow the county to involuntarily furlough employees is still pending in the state Senate. Unions have yet to come to the table.
And before charging forward, Carpenter and Auditor Roger Reynolds both believe the county should look back. The general fund has grown more than $20 million in seven years, Reynolds said, arguing surely there is fat to cut.
But not in their offices. Both say they have already cut to the bone.
So all eyes are on county commissioners, who are awaiting suggestions — or at least concession — from other offices.
“I think collectively we’re going to have to all work together to deal with the crisis,” Williams said.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County, County Auditor, County Commission, Crime and courts
Comments
By Jay
May 29, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
When Mr. Williams says “I think collectively we’re going to have to all work together to deal with the crisis,” does that include the sheriff’s office and Board of Elections? Never been the case before.
By citizen
May 30, 2009 7:24 AM | Link to this
I would suggest looking at the all the “double-dippers” sucking the blood and life out of the budget first.
By love kay
May 30, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
is the money missing from the loan THAT KAY SAID WAS OK
By Louie
May 30, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
Stay tuned citizen, in a few weeks they will announce a new EMA director who is not only double dipping but has a second job with another local government. But he’s politically connected.
By Taylor
June 1, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
What they are doing is getting us taxpayers ready with this “can’t find anywhere to cut” stuff so that their announcement they are putting more taxes on us won’t cause so much uproar. Get ready; they are going to increase the sales tax again.
By JaneRadriges
June 13, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
I really like your post. Does it copyright protected?