Money is tight, and as a result, Fiscal Year 2012’s budget is never far from the commissioners’ minds.
At Tuesday’s meeting County Administrator Susie Hayman asked the commissioners to consider sending a letter to the School Board and Superintendent Barbara Wheeler stating that the most the county will be able to fund is ‘maintenance of effort,’ which is a set amount required by the state. A similar letter was sent last year. Education takes up more than 40 percent of the county’s budget. In Fiscal Year 2011 $18,758,805 is budgeted for education.
“If we can even fund that,” said Commissioner Ron Fithian.
Depending on how the numbers work out, the commissioners even talked about trying to get a waiver from the state for maintenance of effort in an effort.
“My recommendation would be: if we want to seek a waiver, we follow the rules,” said County Attorney Tom Yeager.
While putting together a request is “very time consuming for Pat (Merritt, the county’s chief financial officer),” said Hayman, it might be worth the county’s time.
Salary reductions were also discussed. The commissioners agreed to take a 2 percent reduction. Letters will be sent out to all other elected county officials asking them to do the same.
bill_harrow says
Maybe the county should look into not providing all students with IPODS in an effort to save money. Or maybe the commissioners should look into selling the community center to a private entity.