Upcoming county budget will be tight for all

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

All divisions of Larimer County government will have to tighten their budget belts next year, according to preliminary discussions by the Larimer County Commissioners.

The sheriff's office in particular is looking at hefty cuts in 2009, because revenue for the detention center has not kept pace with expenses for several years.

"The shortage has come to roost," said Budget Director Bob Keister.

County commissioners have offered to help with some of the projected $2.2 million detention center shortfall next year, but the sheriff's office will have to absorb about $1.6 million of the deficit.

As proposed, the total budget for the sheriff's office will likely be down about 6 percent next year.

Sheriff Jim Alderden said most of the cuts will have to come out of jail operations, since he can't cut patrol or investigations without impacting public safety. He anticipates closing some of the housing areas, or pods, in the jail, and that would mean not locking up some misdemeanor offenders. Jurisdictions such as Fort Collins would have to house those offenders elsewhere or not incarcerate them, Alderden said.

"It ain't going to be pretty," he added.

Alderden also plans to pull out of the Larimer County Drug Task Force. Two county officers have been participating in the group, but they will be moved to fill vacant positions, saving $210,000 per year.

At a July 24 meeting with the county commissioners, Alderden said his office has been "targeted" for cuts. "Decisions seem to have no thought to staffing needs, public safety and efficiencies of the jail versus other departments," he said.

Commissioner Kathay Rennels responded that there are across-the-board cuts in next year's budget. "It's not a targeted issue," she said. "Literally, we're down to the bottom line. There are no big buckets to go to. Other departments are suffering, too."

The proposed increase in discretionary funding for the sheriff's office, amounting to more than $600,000 or a 2 percent increase, is intended to help absorb the detention center shortfall. To do more, commissioners said, would mean drastic cuts to other county departments.

County Attorney Larry Abrahamson suggested asking the criminal justice advisory commission to help find potential areas of cost savings in law enforcement, which represents about 54 percent of the county's discretionary budget.

Two funding sources

The sheriff's office is funded primarily by two sources, the county's discretionary funds (about $29 million for 2008) and a 0.2 percent sales tax for operation of the detention center (about $9 million).

Until now, the county has been able to use surplus funds generated early on by the sales tax, which was approved by voters in 1997. Since 2003, however, the surplus has been steadily depleted, and in 2009 it will cease to exist. Law enforcement budgets have risen at a rate of 8 percent a year, while sales tax revenue has gone up about 3 percent a year on average.

"This is just the first step of reality," said Commissioner Glenn Gibson. "We can't continue with an 8 percent growth rate when we have a 3 percent funding source."

Commissioner Randy Eubanks added that the sheriff's office needs to "really tighten up" before the county would go back to taxpayers for a tax increase.

Everyone facing cuts

To deal with flat revenues and the detention center shortfall, commissioners have divided up county functions into three groups for budget planning. Some will receive a 1 percent increase next year from discretionary funds, some will remain flat and others are looking at a 1 percent decrease.

There are two exceptions, however, one being the sheriff's office with the 2 percent increase. Commissioners are also proposing a 3 percent hike for the road and bridge department to cover the high costs of asphalt and gasoline.

Commissioners acknowledged that all departments will in fact have to make cuts next year, since fixed costs such as health care increase about 4 percent each year. County Manager Frank Lancaster said departments will likely have to scale back some services to balance their budgets.