GOLDEN — Employees will take the brunt of the $4 million cuts in the proposed Jefferson County 2008 operating budget.
There will be 22 fewer county positions funded, and 17 job vacancies won’t be filled. Employees will pay all increases in health-insurance premiums while losing retirement-plan matches, and they probably will not get raises. In addition, roads won’t be paved, and a foothills health clinic is closed.
“We have to spend within our means, and that means painful choices everywhere,” said Commissioner Kathy Hartman.
The trims leave $337 million for programs, services, equipment and employees next year. More was sliced from other budgets to pump up reserves.
Elected officials and department heads were told during the year-long budget process: “Here’s your pot of money — you figure out how to do it,” said county budget director Jon Johnson.
Last year, a cut of $12 million was expected, but property assessments were rosier than forecast, and county departments saved more money in 2006 than expected.
But costs are rising, and Jefferson County has been paying daily bills out of its reserves.
“We’re not going to spend out of our savings account for operational-budget matters,” said Commissioner Kevin McCasky. “We need to change the culture and environment now because of the $300 million plus in capital projects looming.”
Those projects include new courtrooms, a new Table Mountain Animal Center and a jail expansion.
Many metro-area counties are increasing their operational budgets for 2008. But Jeffco is in a unique situation as it is “landlocked,” said Larry Kallenberger, executive director of Colorado Counties Inc. Despite its 744 square miles and wide-open views, Jefferson County has nearly run out of developable commercial land that could keep tax money rolling in.
McCasky said Jeffco had a choice: raise taxes or cut spending.
“We choose to cut spending,” he said. Internal and citizen panels recommended slicing some employee benefits. But cuts will make it difficult to keep employees.
The sheriff’s office, which at 58 percent of the general fund is the county’s largest department, cut $2.4 million by trimming overtime, changing work schedules, selling its airplanes, delaying the next police academy and perhaps forgoing raises.
“Will we lose people? Absolutely,” said Sheriff Ted Mink, who expects that other agencies will poach his deputies.
The coroner’s office — one of the smallest departments at 3.8cq percent of the general fund — had to find more than $100,000cq in cuts.
“Everything we do is mandated by the state,” said Coroner Katherine Loughrey-Stempcq. “We cut as much as we possible can … and any little thing could throw that off.”
The final budget is scheduled to be adopted Dec. 11.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
