County announces major budget cuts

A proposed 2009-10 budget that includes job cuts, phasing out of funding for organizations, several reductions, and maintaining the 43 cent tax rate, was released at a meeting of the Alleghany County Commission June 1 by County Manager Don Adams. The proposed budget is $13,654,448, a decrease of 11.4 percent ($1,756,871) when compared to the 2008-09 amended budget. Cuts

In terms of personnel, four positions would be eliminated from the county payroll, a Department of Social Services social worker, a sheriff's deputy, a tax office position and a building inspector. By removing the positions, the county's payroll and insurance would be reduced by $122,677. Actual savings to the county would be $102,537 when reducing the reimbursements from social services. In addition, there will be a 4.1 percent decrease across the board and a proposal was made to impose six days of unpaid furlough to county employees. Adams recommended the leave be tied into the holiday season, noting doing so would reduce extra holiday pay to law enforcement, EMS and the landfill. The furlough would reduce salaries by 2.31 percent. A second proposal would be to reduce longevity pay by 50 percent. Should the two proposals be implemented, the county's payroll would be reduced by $99,219 and county savings would be $83,936 when reducing reimbursements from social services and transportation.

Adams commented, "If the county cannot legally reduce these items, then reducing the overall pay scale by approximately 3 percent will create the same amount of savings."

Special Appropriations

Special appropriations were divided into four groups, including grants and mandates, volunteer safety, primary core functions and secondary functions.

A total of 13 agencies are proposed to be cut from county funding over a three-year period. The entities are: Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission (BROC), Alleghany Arts Council, Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, Alleghany Planning Committee, Alleghany County Health Advisory Council, Alleghany Family Resource Center, Alleghany Connections, Alleghany Wellness Center, American Red Cross, Wilkes Center for Deaf, Appalachian Senior Programs, Alleghany County Group Homes and Channel 50/21.

Adams proposed a reduction schedule of making 35 percent reductions to the programs during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, and a 30 percent reduction during the 2011-12 fiscal year from the 2008-09 funding level.

Of the phasing process, Adams remarked, "All of these programs provide valuable services to the community."