BOC to vote Tuesday on layoffs, salary cuts

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BARROW BUDGET COMMITTEE

BOC to vote Tuesday on layoffs, salary cuts

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in News, Top Stories

Wednesday, June 3. 2009

Comments (22)

Employees of Barrow County’s government will learn Tuesday night how severely the county’s fiscal crisis will affect them. The Barrow County Board of Commissioners is likely to vote Tuesday night on decisive steps to salvage the county’s finances.

The plan reportedly includes a significant “reduction in force” affecting most departments, as well as salary cuts for many of those who hang onto their jobs.

Salaries are expected to undergo a major correction to remedy the snowball effect of the aggressive implementation of a 2005 pay study that has resulted in salaries and benefits now absorbing nearly all of the county’s annual revenues.

At current staffing levels, salaries would require all but $2 million of the $28 million in anticipated revenue in FY2010.

The cuts to be announced Tuesday should also make a serious dent in the FY2010 budget shortfall, which currently is projected to amount to $7 million or more.

Defined tags for this entry: Barrow County Board of Commissioners, budget, News, Top Stories

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#1 Taxi Spendi on 06/03/09 at 03:03 PM [Reply]

EVERYTHING needs to be on the table insofar as spending cuts. The BOC needs to be differ than the teabagging idiots who want lower taxes (& lower spending) -- but don't cut Defense, Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. The Comisars need to cut salaries, benefits and jobs.

#1.1 Anonymous on 06/07/09 at 08:09 PM [Reply]

Maybe the citizens of Barrow County should
stop electing big government politicians
from the 'good old gang'???

#2 Anonymous on 06/04/09 at 07:10 AM [Reply]

Why not STOP spending money you don't have? Did you not two meetings ago vote to GIVE AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 to the county attorney because her billings (IE sucking the county dry) were ALREADY OVER THE BUDGETED AMOUNT?

Before you cut salaries, positions or raise taxes, stop spending!!!

That $100,000 could say a few jobs, or many pay cuts. So Please don't tell me, you need to cut my salary or my job!!!!!!!!!

#2.1 Anonymous on 06/07/09 at 08:10 PM [Reply]

If you have an idea how to balance the
county budget why not suggest it at:
http://www.ga30620.blogspot.com

#3 Steven Lickowitz on 06/04/09 at 05:54 PM [Reply]

Sell the airport and all the land purchased for the extension. That should make up for the shortfall. Then let that private company make the airport bigger and bring in more money for the county. I understand some do not want it to be bigger but we do not need the burden of the Airport any longer. Raise property taxes a little that way the citizens can help with the budget and not depend soley on the employees.

#4 Anonymous on 06/04/09 at 06:37 PM [Reply]

Talk about spending money the county doesn't have! It is my understanding that Yearwood and district 1, 2, and 3 commisoners have been in Jekyll Island this week for training using county money. What money? If jobs are having to be cut then I think training on county money should be cut. Oh, but I guess there is money for the higher ups????? I am a former school teacher any extra training I had to take came out of my pocket not county or state money.

#4.1 Mike Buffington on 06/04/09 at 07:47 PM [Reply]

Just FYI, all newly-elected county commissioners have state-mandated training they are required to do. I happen to be in Jekyll today for another meeting and there are a lot of commissioners down there from all around the state for training sessions.

#4.1.1 Anonymous on 06/04/09 at 08:04 PM [Reply]

did taxpayers pay for it? with money we dont have, there wallets are fatter now why cant it come out of there own pocket. Are criminal charges ever going to come from this? Last I learned stealing was a crime!!

#4.1.2 Been There..Done That!! on 06/05/09 at 07:40 AM [Reply]

Those training seminars are just fronts for vacations paid for by your employer. I know, I've been to them. You can go to class if you want, skip class when you want, sleep in if you want and even drink alcohol during your lunch. Why do you think they are held at resorts? Simple answer, if they were not held at resorts no one would go!

#4.1.3 Anonymous on 06/05/09 at 10:41 AM [Reply]

So do teachers,doctors,lawyers,nurses,and a lot of other professions but they don't get to do it at the tax payers expense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#5 Anonymous on 06/04/09 at 07:59 PM [Reply]

I never thought this day would come, soon one of the surrounding counties will have to buy our county and we will no longer be barrow county. I think we will be split between oconee, gwinnett or hall. I have been here for 30 years and Im not giving taxes or paying anymore house notes for the upper dogs in this county anymore, Good luck my fellow citizins Im moving to madison county the real back bone around here!

#5.1 Anonymous on 06/08/09 at 09:25 PM [Reply]

BYE!!

#6 Anonymous on 06/04/09 at 09:18 PM [Reply]

There is no HOPE for Barrow County...
The Chairman & Commissioners are not listening at the citizens. They refuse to get rid of the "favorite ones". Those employees accounts for many employees drawing a LARGE check with no benefits the county.
Giving the attorney an additional $100,000 was a disgrace, considering the condition the county is in. It also confirms that we have "unqualified people" in positions they should be removed from.
What does the citizens have to do to get the attention of the Chairman & Commissioners???

#7 Anonymous on 06/05/09 at 10:52 AM [Reply]

To Mr.Buffington, I understand that there are state mandated traning however I do not understand why a county car was taken and why the couty had to foot the bill. My state mandated training comes straight out of my pocket. Thank you been there done that you are right on the money, a liitle vacation to Jekyll Island using county money. This is stealing money that we do not have and then they want to talk about we have no MONEY.

#7.1 Mike Buffington on 06/05/09 at 10:59 AM [Reply]

Every city/county has its own policies about who pays. Typically, most governments pay for state-mandated training for elected officials the same way they do for other county departments, all of which have their own mandated training requirements as well. You do have to wonder, however, if all this training is really necessary.
Mike

#7.1.1 Anonymous on 06/10/09 at 10:56 PM [Reply]

Considering my husbands pay is about to possibly decrease by another 20 percent, since they have already taken 4 percent and their holiday pay away, this kind of training needs to be investigated and brought forth so the citizens of Barrow County can see where their money is going. When you are talking about taking away a family's livlihood, every cent should be thought twice about.

#8 dana on 06/05/09 at 12:09 PM [Reply]

They need to go back to basic trainig like how to balance a check book!!!!!!!!!!!!

#9 Anonymous on 06/05/09 at 02:05 PM [Reply]

I think the citizens of Barrow Couty need to see the expense sheet for this so called training session that was mandated in Jekyll Island. From the gas cost to the cost of food and everything in between.

#9.1 Anonymous on 06/08/09 at 09:53 AM [Reply]

I agree. And It is public record because we as the tax payers paid for it !!

#9.1.1 Anonymous on 06/08/09 at 12:03 PM [Reply]

I work in Public Saftey (Law Enforcement), when I go to training classes I dont get paid. I might take a Patrol Car but its less than 1 tank of Gas and if I need gas while away. I use MY money to put gas back in the tank. Food and Hotel is paid for be ME not the Department. So, why should the BOC get a paid vacation to train?

#9.1.1.1 Just a Firefighter on 06/09/09 at 09:06 AM [Reply]

I've been to many weeks of training as well and we pay for everything except the ride there and back. Trust us folks, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in scenic Forsyth Georgia is no Jekyll Island! The Days Inn isn't a thing like what your commissioner's stay at for their 'training'. And to think that the taxpayer get to foot the bill for our elected officials to go to the beach for a week.

#9.1.1.1.1 it's not right on 06/09/09 at 10:15 AM [Reply]

that's the difference in you saving lives, and those folks wrecking them!!!

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