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Hernando Today

Hamilton: Budget Is Priority No. 1

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Published: February 21, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - In 25 days, David Hamilton will start his duties as Hernando County's newest administrator.

But even though he's thousands of miles away closing up shop as county administrator in Crow Wing, Minn., he's spending as much time as possible boning up on the top issues facing him here.

He's already figured it out.

"The priorities are the budget, the budget and the budget," he joked.

Hamilton said Hernando County government officials got a clear mandate from voters in the February primary to rein in spending and get the budget under control.

He intends to do that. And not without the publics help. Getting a balanced budget submitted by July 1 will be such a monumental task that it may require a level of public involvement that maybe hasn't been seen here in the past, he said.

"We need to have the citizens involved in the public process looking at different options," Hamilton said.

Whether that involvement will be in the form of more community workshops or other outreach events, he is not yet sure.

And as daunting as the task sounds, Hamilton said he relishes the challenge.

"I can hardly wait," he said.

Hamilton praised county commissioners for starting their budget brainstorming process early.

On Tuesday, commissioners carved out a piece of their business meeting agenda to discuss revenue-saving options.

That meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville. And while he can't be there for that meeting, Hamilton said he is trusting in the experience of Interim County Administrator Larry Jennings and Budget Director George Zoettlein to get the budget talks rolling.

When he begins March 17, he expects to be brought up-to-date on the latest developments and has already set aside the second day on the job for meeting with Jennings and Zoettlein to "start tearing apart the budget."

Zoettlein estimates the county will face a revenue reduction of $9 million to $10 million this coming year.

That means the county must put the brakes on department budgets for 2009 that increase expenditures and make sure the county adheres firmly to zero-based budgeting, Hamilton said.

"A radical downshift of $9 to $10 million requires complete concentration," Hamilton said. "That will be job No. 1 until we get it before the board in a package that they can be comfortable with. This is going to require us to develop strategies and a shift of services of what we do and don't do."

Probably the biggest challenge will be the funding of the county jail, he said.

The county's contract with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) — a private company that runs the jail — increased from a budgeted $11.2 million last year to $15.3 million in 2008. Next year, the planned contract is an estimated $18.7 million.

Zoettlein said there are several cost-saving options being explored regarding the Hernando County Jail, which is facing an overcrowding issue.

One option is to release prisoners into society with ankle bracelet monitoring devices. That would free up space and possibly allow for the import of prisoners from neighboring counties to bring in more money, he said.

Hamilton said he faced a similar budgetary crisis with the jail in Crow Wing and it was through the cooperative efforts of himself and the sheriff that he was able to bring in $1 million more in revenue.

Without jeopardizing public safety, all options of jail funding will be on the table, he said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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