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Hernando Today

Budget director gets new job description

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 28, 2009

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - With only about three minutes of debate, county commissioners on Tuesday gave Budget Director George Zoettlein a larger cushion of job security.

They voted 5-0 to have the administrator develop a revised job description for the budget director position, incorporating some of the duties of deputy county administrator, a title eliminated with the retirement of Larry Jennings.

With the extra duties, Zoettlein will assume a greater role in the leadership team, which meets regularly to make policy recommendations and report back to county commissioners.

County Administrator David Hamilton said he has already started working with Zoettlein in preparing a budget for next year and the process is proceeding well.

"I always thought Mr. Hamilton would find Mr. Zoettlein warm and cuddly once he got to know him," Commissioner Jeff Stabins said.

There had been some perceived friction during last budget season because Zoettlein had reportedly been kept out of the loop during its crafting. That led to speculation about Zoettlein's future.

Zoettlein's tenure with the county was also in jeopardy when Hamilton recommended merging the budget director and deputy county administrator position to save money.

But commissioners recently voted 3-2 to reconsider the idea of eliminating the position of budget director George Zoettlein after three members, Rose Rocco, Jeff Stabins and Jim Adkins, thought it was not a good move now.

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

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