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Montgomery County to trim 5 percent from budget

Sheriff says his department can’t take the cut.

County layoffs, service cuts predicted

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer Updated 12:50 AM Tuesday, April 21, 2009

DAYTON — Montgomery County elected officials would need to cut an additional 5 percent out of their General Fund budgets by June 1 under a budget-balancing proposal outlined Monday, April 20, by Montgomery County Administrator Deborah Feldman.

But Sheriff Phil Plummer said the cuts should not be applied equally across all county offices.

“I cut all the fat we had last time,” Plummer said. “If I go through this one we will lose important people who provide important services in the community.”

With the county reeling from dramatic declines in sales tax, real estate-based fees and investment income, Feldman said there is no alternative.

“Since almost 70 percent of our general fund is law enforcement and justice, there really is no way to balance our budget without affecting those offices,” Feldman said.

Her plan also calls for draining the budget stabilization fund and cutting operating reserves to a level she said is “as low as they can go,” in order to carve $7.6 million out of the $157 million 2009 general fund budget approved in December.

Feldman’s proposal will be considered by Montgomery County Commission on Tuesday. They can reduce the budget, but county elected officials have final say in what jobs and services get cut. The budget cuts would total 2.5 percent from the approved budget, but because the year will be half over when the cuts are made, Feldman said it will take a 5 percent cut for the remainder of the year to achieve the necessary savings. The current budget already includes 3 percent across-the-board cuts.

The county commission and RTA board will meet today to discuss the budget situation. Check our Web site this afternoon for updates.

DaytonDailyNews.com

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