County Bosses Talk Budget Today

BROOKSVILLE - If county commissioners approve County Administrator David Hamilton's proposed budget recommendations en masse, Hernando County government would not only go on a diet, it would face extreme liposuction.
In his 28-page 2009 budget preview, Hamilton recommended cutting THE Bus local funding by one-third, reducing the county's vehicle fleet 7 percent, offering managers early retirement buyouts and cutting back on assorted services.
For taxpayers, that could mean one day less bus service, shorter library hours, fewer county staffers on hand to assist at county offices and more fees for using the county parks.
The county is expecting a gap between general fund revenue and expenditures of around $6.3 million, according to Budget Director George Zoettlein.
If Hamilton's budget-cutting recommendations are approved, he expects to lower that gap to $4.4-million.
And, he expects to do it without raising the existing 5.43 millage rate.
That means the millage based upon the 2008 assessed valuation in Hernando County, would bring in $54.5 million, about $7.5 million less than what it brought in last year -- $62 million. The drop in tax revenues based on the same mill levy is due to the decrease in property values and passage of Amendment 1.
But there is one scenario proposed by Hamilton that would really trim the fat out of government.
Hamilton said he has identified 225 positions in nine government categories -- including Constitutional Office staffers -- who account for an annual salary and benefit cost of $13.3 million.
Hamilton said those positions have a great deal of overlap and duplication and - over time -- those positions may need to be consolidated in what he calls a central administrative support entity.
The concept, he said, is "shared services" and the private sector has been doing it for years.
Obviously, the county cannot totally eliminate 225 jobs at once, he said. But it could set a target - maybe 25 - and consider cutting or reconfiguring those positions during the second year of the streamlining process.
It will require a different mind-set or "culture shift" to adapt to the new economic reality, Hamilton said.
"There is no new money and there is likely to be no new money until we get out from under this economic tailspin," he said.
That could mean a dramatic tightening of services and either a reshuffling of job duties or even layoffs, in addition to the 20 he has already identified.
As first reported a month ago in Hernando Today, Hamilton said he is working on a model of a revised organizational structure that would condense the government operation from more than 25 entities.
To streamline even more will require high levels of cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders, Hamilton said.
County commissioners will consider the budget at their business meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. today at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.
Hamilton has until July 15 to submit a balanced budget. After that are budget workshops, where the public will be able to give input.