Commissioners approve budget in split vote
File image By KPIC Web StaffROSEBURG, Ore. - On a split vote, the Douglas County Commissioners have approved the budget for the next fiscal year. After a long discussion Wednesday morning, commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the budget that will go into effect on July 1st, if the safety net is not approved at the last moments by Congress. County Finance Manager Sandi Correll said $14 million will come out of the county general fund, but a total of $39 million from the county's savings account. Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman said she can't support that. "You either make the cuts and the changes now so that that money can fund roads and sheriff's for as long as possible, or you have a full employment act or near full employment act and keep spending the money at the rate we're doing it now and we have enough for about two more years, and I won't be in here to have to deal with the fall-out," said Kittleman. John Ayer, who ran for county commissioner against Doug Robertson in the primary, said the county can't afford this budget and needs to cut it more. "I would like to see the county employees' pay cut, I would like to see, I'm not saying get rid of it, but I think the 1,000 a month for health insurance is quite a bit, but that more than a lot of people get on social security today," said Ayer. Correll says 59 positions are being eliminated. The county budget committee, approved the budget for $145 million, a reduction of about $26 million from the current budget. Kittelman voted no, while Doug Robertson and Joe Laurance said the savings account is there for hard times and that's what we're in. |
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February 9, 2012
- Roseburg, Oregon
