Fremont Co. Looking At Another Frugal Year In 2010

by Josh Polandj.poland@krdo.comtwitter.com/joshpoland

CANON CITY -When it comes to budget challenges, Fremont County is no exception. But county commissioners say their situation could be much worse if it were not forthe county’sfrugal spending habits.

“Fremont County has long been the basics and not much more,” says Mike Stiehl, Fremont County Commission Chairman.

The basics will have to suffice once again in 2010 as county commissioners are in the process of finalizing next year’s budget. Tuesday was the final day of public hearings.

Budget shortfalls forced commissioners to make drastic changes this past year.

“We made significant cuts in pay,” says Stiehl. “We added furlough days, cut out vacations, made layoffs and left unfilled vacancies. I feel bad about what we had to do, but I’m proud that we were able to accomplish that so we didn’t end up $1 million in the hole.”

The cost-saving moves mean this year’s budget will end up at about $34.4 million. Some of those measures will stay in place for next year, leaving the 2010 budget shaping up to be about $34.2 million.

Commissioners say in addition to the 4-day work week they began this summer, the 2010 budget will also include fewer paid holidays and eliminating the county’s 4-percent retirement fund matches for employees.

“We thought that would be the fairest way to pull in our horns and not create additional work load for our people,” says Stiehl.

There would not beadditional work load because the county does not plan to continue the furloughs it put into place this year. County commissioners also don’t foresee any additional cuts to the 25 positions they eliminated in 2009.

“Last year was a really hard year,” says Stiehl.

Losses in sales tax revenueshit the county hard in 2009. Sales tax revenuesare expected to flatten out in 2010.

“We should be flat and that’s what we’re projecting,” says Stiehl.

Stiehl says the county will have to continue its frugal ways next year, but he holds out a sliver of optimism.

“Hopefully, we can all rest better, including commissioners who are losing sleep over this, over no further cuts next year,” he says.

Fremont County commissioners are scheduled to adopt the county budget at their December 8th meeting.

For a link to the proposed 2010 budget, click here.