Money problems lead to job cuts

After weeks of contract discussions with no discernible progress between county officials and employees, Mineral County Commissioners voted last week to reduce positions in certain departments, in an effort save money.

Commissioners met with department heads to discuss a “reduction in force,” and announced their decisions later that afternoon.

 Employees appeared visibly shaken during the July 7 meeting, as the commissioners listed which positions would be cut from the budget.

Final decisions were announced to a packed room later that afternoon.

Tensions ran high as a motion was made for the reduction. They included five full-time and one part-time job which were a clerk in the treasurer’s office; one dispatch position in the sheriff’s office; one misdemeanor probation officer/investigator in Justice Court; one in the health department, and the deputy county’s half-time position in the county attorney’s office.

“This has been a very difficult week,” said Zylawy.

“My heart goes out to those on the receiving end of these cuts.”

A BUDGET SHORTFALL

The reason for the lay-offs are the result of a budget shortfall of about $400,000. The county has anticipated revenue of close to a million dollars, and expenses totaling around one and a half million, explained Commissioner Laurie Johnston.

Jessica Connolly, a financial advisor to the county, said there was a little money left in the budget. The total dollar amount needed at this point is closer to $350,000. However, the final budget has not been completed.

“These are hard decisions to make,” said Johnston. “Where do we come up with the revenue? We hate to go to this extreme, but if we wait to see if someone comes up with different ideas and there still isn’t enough, then we’re spending money that we don’t have.”

Commissioner Duane Simons echoed similar sentiments: “we have to go to this extreme. If we end up with extra funds, then we can go back and rehire. But we have to go to this extreme at this point.”

The layoffs will go into effect as soon as possible, because July 1 was the beginning of the new fiscal year.

The commissioners said this was just one part of the budget cuts, and follow-up meetings are scheduled on July 14 and 15. They will continue to look at possible areas to cut — which may include more lay-offs.

BUDGET WOES IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Initially, the motion Simons made was to cut a deputy and a dispatch position from the sheriff’s department, along with the other positions listed. Bauer said that he opposed the cut.

“My number one priority is public safety,” he said. “If you cut a deputy, we can’t use reserve deputies to replace him. State law prohibits it.”

After further discussion, the motion proposed by Simons was not approved. A new one was proposed by Johnston that did not include the deputy’s position as part of the reduction in force.

County Attorney Marcia Boris was opposed to cutting the probation and deputy county attorney positions. Pointing out that the pretrial and misdemeanor supervision position has a case load of 89 individuals who are currently being supervised. She questioned public safety if this position were to be eliminated — and anticipates some of the low risk individuals could end up placed into the community unsupervised.

“We’ve come a long way in the five and a half years since I took office,” said Boris in a memo she gave the commissioners. “We have obtained grant funding for victim advocacy, special investigation related to domestic violence, sexual crimes, and crimes against children.”

She explained in the meeting that the probation position they were considering to lay-off is substantially funded through a grant, “what is the purpose of eliminating a grant funded position? Where are the cost savings in that? Once that position is eliminated, those grant funds will need to be returned. It’s not like we can move them into another account.”

Boris also provided the commissioners with financial information in the memo, regarding fees and fines defendants must pay as part of their judgment. Boris asserted that these methods would help defray costs if fully utilized.

She also stated that the deputy county attorney position is paid by a county attorney surcharge for felonies and misdemeanors for which defendants are found guilty. As well as with funds from forfeited bonds.

Ultimately, eliminating the position “would seriously cripple our ability to keep up with our criminal caseload, and our ability to timely assist with county civil matters would suffer tremendously.”

Alternative cost-cutting options were also presented to the commissioners by Boris, including collecting delinquent taxes from local businesses.

Sheriff Tom Bauer said if next year there are still budget problems, he would happily entertain the idea of running a special levy. As long as he had the full support and cooperation of the commissioners and other departments. He was assured by several parties that a levy would be fully supported.

The meeting ended in tears for several individuals.

Adam Cole, a probabtion officer, said thanks for the past eight years and walked out the door. Cole’s gratitude was not shared by everyone affected by the cuts.

“I hope you can sleep tonight,” Boris said to the commissioners.

Zylawy responded that they haven’t been getting much sleep lately.

A PERSONAL MATTER

As the room cleared, an argument erupted between clerk and recorder, Staci Hayes, and commissioner administrative assistant, Charlee Thompson, regarding job performance and responsibilities.

“I’m tired of being blamed for everything around here,” Thompson said, as she left the room after the heated exchange with Hayes.

Tensions at the county courthouse have been running high, especially over the past few months. Budget shortfalls and problems regarding financial information have dogged the county over the past several years. In December, the county contracted with CPA, Jessica Connelly to help straighten out the records and better explain the budgetary process to department heads.

STAYING AFLOAT FOR NOW

Though the system is being straightened out, the county is still operating in the red. An option recently proposed by the county salary compensation board, was to freeze all elected officials pay. This will be considered as budget meetings continue.

Commissioners are also struggling with contract negotiations between the county and sheriff department employees, who went on strike over the Memorial Day weekend. Two mediation meetings have been held to renegotiate a contract. The employees have been without a contract since July 2015 when they rejected an offer from the commissioners. The next meeting with the state mediator is scheduled for July 28.