COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—El Paso County employees might have to take unpaid time off because of a $4.1 million-dollar budget shortfall.
Furloughs are among the solutions being explored to cover the shortfall in sales tax revenue by year’s end.
County Administrator Jeff Greene said Friday that unpaid leaves of absences were his least favorite solution. “Basically, you are balancing the budget on the backs of the employees,” he said.
The county is also considering shutting down certain buildings for long weekends or around holidays to cut the cost of utilities. Greene said furloughs might not be necessary if the county can save enough money doing that.
“There is really nothing that is off the table right now,” said Dennis Hisey, chairman of the county commission.
Managers and elected officials have been asked to cut their budgets by certain amounts. Their reports are due within the next week.
The county commissioners will hear the various options Nov. 1 and decide what to do.
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Information from: The Gazette,
