Possible reductions in county work force

On Friday, June 17, Mineral County Commissioners passed a motion to have a reduction in the county work force in order to help balance the county budget.

“Every office will be looked at,” said Commissioner Chairman, Roman Zylawy, “not just Public Safety, but every office will be looked at for reduction. We need to tighten our belt.”

“We really don’t have choice,” said Commissioner Duane Simons.

The number of employees is to be determined. The commissioners said they will need to meet with department heads and get feedback.

During the morning meeting, the county’s financial officer, Jessica Connolly said over the past several years the county has prepared a budget for expenditures, but not much attention was paid to revenue. As a result, all of the county’s cash reserves have been spent and, “we are at a point where we need to start balancing the budget and build up our reserve,” she said.

Ideally, thirty-three percent of the county’s annual appropriations should be put into a reserve fund. That’s $553,564 of a total of $1,677,467 in current appropriations in the General Fund, according to the 2016 Statement of Expenditures report for the county. Connolly said the fund will need to gradually be built up over several years.

The Public Safety Department is the lion’s share of the budget, said Zylawy. Out of a total of 97.68 mills, the department has 57.79, or $964,947 of a $1,906,190 budget. The next highest go to District Court with 9.25 mills or $100,187. The lowest is the senior citizens centers at 1.16 mills or $14,012. Some departments, like the Mineral County Museum, and the airport, don’t receive any levy funds.

Currently, the Public Safety department is at negative $23,954. However, Connolly said they can move some funds from other accounts to make up this year’s deficit.

An option to increase funds would be to hold a law enforcement levy, suggested Simons. A similar levy was held a few years ago, however it was voted down by the public.

“We offered to put a levy on the ballot this year,” said Johnston. However, she said during Wednesday negotiations, the state mediator indicated the county sheriff did not want to hold a levy.

However, sheriff department employee spokesperson, Patti Curtin, said she would be open to the idea of a levy. Stacy Hayes, who is the election administrator, said a levy does not need to be held in conjunction with the November general elections and it could be held at any time. Hayes said she would look into the deadlines to see if it could still be put on the November ballot.

“I would hate to see any of our people go (due to lay-offs),” said Curtin during a public comment period on Friday, “we can’t operate with any personnel cuts and still give the best public safety to the county.”