The Barrow County Board of Commissioners met Thursday for a general government budget work session. The general government portion of the budget represents 27 percent of the $37.5 million proposed county budget for 2009.
In response to ongoing economic pressures, expenditures for general government are projected to decrease by $1.29 million this fiscal year or 11.45 percent from 2008.
Of the 36 departments and agencies represented in the general government budget, 15 will receive less money this year. Nine of the 36 will see no change from last year’s budget.
The Piedmont Regional Library System, which had requested that the county triple its contribution to over $160,000, will receive only $55,700 this year, a $10,000 reduction from last year’s county contribution.
Planning and zoning will receive $99,400 less than last year, the financial administration budget will be cut by $57,500 and buildings and grounds will have $122,000 less to work with in 2009.
Staffing will also be affected by the budget reductions.
County Administrator Keith Lee said the economy has forced the county to implement a hiring freeze except for 911 center personnel. With 13 positions currently vacant, department heads will re-assign personnel as needed in the hope of mitigating the effects of the freeze.
The county has also proposed eliminating one full time position in leisure services, a part-time position at the senior center and a part time position in the finance department.
“It’s going to affect services,” Lee said.
The Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, September 16 at 4 p.m. to discuss the public safety and judicial system portion of the 2009 budget.
The first services to be affected are always the services most utilized by citizens such as our libraries and parks, rather than our officials admitting to having too many employees, too many vehicles, and just too much waste in county government.
Kristi Reed stated, "In response to ongoing economic pressures, expenditures for general government are projected to decrease by $1.29 million this fiscal year or 11.45 percent from 2008." The questions become, if revenue is decreasing, why shouldn't a hiring freeze be enacted, excess current staff be allocated to an area of need, and cuts across the board be the correct action to take? Better to be reassigned than laid off! Where is the need for additional expenditures if growth is flat or actually decreasing? Businesses operate on this premise and the term for this premise is called a business plan.
Now is the time for our commissioners to earn their keep and make the hard decisions. Will the commissioners tailor the budget to projected revenue? Will the commissioners again go to the taxpayers of this county with another timeworn phrase, "You, the taxpayer, must sacrifice more of your hard-earned dollars so that we can continue to overspend and hire more people to maintain our level of services during decreasing growth"?
Alas, I don't expect it to happen. Politicians equal no guts.