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| County anticipates another lean year |
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| News - Clay County | |||
| Written by Mark Johnson | |||
| Thursday, 10 December 2009 01:00 | |||
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Sparse. That’s how Clay County Administrator Alexa Barton describes the county’s proposed approximately $65 million operating budget for 2010.
“We’re going to be able to keep our employees, but we’re going to be very limited with capital work,” she said. “It’s only going to be the most needed bricks and mortar, such as repairing a leaking pipe or patching a roof.” Barton said if the economic conditions should grow significantly worse, the county could be forced to look at additional moves, including work force restructuring and the elimination of positions through attrition. If the economy shows signs of improvement, Barton said the county would still proceed with caution. “We’re going to take a very conservative approach,” she said. Barton said there would be quarterly reviews of the budget throughout the upcoming fiscal year. Similar reviews in 2009 led to several significant budget revisions with expenditure reductions. Barton said it would have been difficult for the county to make it through 2009 without the cooperation of office holders. “Everyone really pulled together,” she said. “It was very much appreciated.” Presiding Commissioner Ed Quick agreed. “Most understood the situation and tried to deal with it fairly,” he said. In another move to address the economic downturn of 2009, the county commission took direct control of capital expenditures last January. That isn’t expected to change in 2010. “We have to keep ourselves covered,” Quick said of the proposed budget. “What we have right now is a just a projection.” Quick also agreed that the county has fared the economic storm better than other government entities. “We were willing to take the steps that needed to be taken and moved a little faster than some others,” he said. Quick said the county is going to need to continue to take the right steps, even when the economy recovers. “We always need to be prepared in the good times and the bad times,” he said.
Senior writer Mark Johnson can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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