County budget deals with downturn
By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News
Larimer County government will work with fewer employees, and those employees
will get no pay raises in 2011.
Elected officials and department heads have spent the past several months
whacking their expense columns to match revenue columns based on expected
leaner times in the near future.
Citizens will see a proposed 2011 budget of $310,568,259 when they consider
whether to comment at upcoming public hearings. That's the amount of money
available unless voters pass any of three issues on the ballot aimed at
reducing taxes and fees statewide.
County departments are also preparing alternative budgets with 5 to 25
percent reductions in expenses to be ready if voters pass the proposed
Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 in November. For example, the
county would have to cut 107 positions if all three ballot measures pass.
In addition, commissioners are trying to build up a $4 million surplus
in the general fund to offset future declines in tax revenue as property
valuations go down. More cuts are needed to reach that goal by the time
the budget is adopted on Dec. 20.
To prepare this year's recommended budget, county departments had to cut
their spending by 1 to 6 percent based on the commissioners' priorities.
County manager Frank Lancaster characterized the 2011 budget process as
"one of focusing resources to the highest priority services while limiting
the requests for supplemental funding." He instructed all departments and
services to focus on becoming more efficient and streamlined in delivering
their services.
As a result, the county will have 29 fewer employees, saving about $1.45
million. Some of the lost positions were already vacant, and some employees
will take a voluntary separation offer from the county. In addition, county
employees will see no salary increases for the second year in a row and
no merit pay. Some salaries were reduced, and pay increases for longevity
are being phased out.
"All of the departments went at it with a good attitude," Lancaster told
the county commissioners at a work session.
Commissioners also had to cut their spending, including a special projects
fund used throughout the year to finance unanticipated requests from citizens.
Good news for the county is no increases in medical and dental insurance
costs for the second year in a row. The county is self-insured.
The county breaks down its budget by service areas. Public safety remains
the top-funded category at $61.5 million. Other categories include support
services, $56.5 million; health and well-being, $50.6 million; transportation,
$31.7 million; environment, $20.3 million; general government, $14.8 million;
and jobs and economic vitality, $6.7 million.
The county's operating mill levy remains the same at 21.774. The tax impact
on an owner of a $268,569 home is expected to be $479.45 for the county
portion of next year's tax bill.
Copies of the 2011 Proposed Budget are available online at
www.larimer.org/budget/2011budget/;
at the Larimer County budget office, 200 W. Oak St., Fort Collins; and
at public libraries.
County Commissioners will hold two public, televised hearings on the budget.
One will be held in Fort Collins on Nov. 15. The second will be held in
Estes Park on Nov. 22. Hearings start at 6:30 p.m.
The first hearing will be televised on cable channels 14 in Fort Collins,
45 in LaPorte and Wellington, and 16 in Loveland and Berthoud. Viewers
may call with their questions or comments by dialing 498-7016.
The public can also comment by e-mail to
BOCC@larimer.org, or mail comments
to the County Commissioners, P.O. Box 1190, Fort Collins CO 80522.
The budget adoption hearing will be held on Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. in the Courthouse
Offices Building in Fort Collins.
Commissioners started cutting the budget this year in anticipation of having
to cut even more for the 2012 budget due to falling real estate values.
The county has yet to decide how it will deal with an operating deficit
at the detention center when a sales tax expires in 2014.
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