Sedona AZ (April 22, 2011) – In their Wednesday meeting, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors took a major step in balancing its upcoming budget by adopting $2.1 million in cuts for the new fiscal year, which starts in July.
County Manager Fritz Behring has recommended $5 million in cuts to the general fund for next year as part of a multi-year effort to bring county spending in line with existing revenues. To date, staff has identified and the Board has approved, $3.3 million in cuts to the general fund and $1.4 million in other funds.
The county manager has said the remaining $1.7 million in spending cuts will come from all departments – primarily in the form of reductions to operating line items.
The reductions in Development Services will impact personnel and services. Twenty positions will be eliminated in six departments. Development Services personnel will reduce staffing at the Oracle and Casa Grande satellite offices.
Supervisor Snider added that he would like to see the county use technology when possible to serve people who may not have the time or ability to travel to Florence. The Board voted to implement the Development Services budget and staffing reductions.
The third and final budget-related program ended in a 2-1 vote. It involved a proposal to reduce or eliminate a lease subsidy for county van pools. The van pool program began as part of a federal initiative to improve air quality and reduce traffic by encouraging large employers to reduce single vehicle commuters through employee trip reduction incentives.
Currently, the county pays an amount equal to 50 percent a van pool lease. Leases vary based on the size and model of the van. Employees who belong to the van pool are responsible for the rest of the lease costs as well as fuel, cleaning and maintenance costs. After cutbacks in prior budget years, the county has 17 vans in operation with a county contribution totaling $125,000.
After a vigorous discussion about the role of the van pools, the Supervisors approved a 25 percent cut in the subsidy.
This SedonaEye.com article was written by Joe Pyritz, reporting for Pinal County.
What has the great city of Sedona found to cut? Peanuts. On principle folks should be fired for lack of job performance and Pinal County’s hired as replacements. only after getting fired the chamber will hire them with the money “misappropriated” from the city to the chamber and we still lose. I’m embarrassed by our city’s past decades of mismanagement and want the new council to keep the punches coming without knuckling under. You?