County to set priorities for 2010

County commissioners will start 2010 by figuring out the top issues facing them in the new year.

And not surprisingly, most agree the budget takes precedence.

On Jan. 8, the board will hold a workshop to establish priorities and goals. This year, given the financial challenges ahead, the board invited the five elected constitutional officers to attend.

Commissioner Jim Adkins said his top priority for 2010 will be job creation, and he plans to ask the county's business development department for statistics on the success of current economic incentives for relocating businesses.

Hernando County is sitting at 14.7 percent unemployment, third highest in the state, and that is unacceptable, he said.

Adkins said it is imperative the constitutionals attend because they are part of the tax base and it will be more difficult this year with declining revenues.

Adkins said he is glad this strategic meeting is occurring early in the year so departments can better plan for the harsh budgetary realities.

County Commissioner John Druzbick said he wants to get a sense of what each board member believes is the top priority of 2010.

"Once we come up with that list, that should be the goal we try and obtain at the end of the year," Druzbick said. "It's a good goal-setting way to see what we want to get done for our county."

For Druzbick, the priority is clear: the budget.

Specifically, Druzbick said he wants to see more consolidation among board-controlled departments and elected constitutional officers.

For example, he said the sheriff's department and the school district have their own human resources department and technical support staffs.

Druzbick said it would be more cost efficient for taxpayers to examine combining those services.

Druzbick said he would also like to explore greater cooperative purchasing between the school district and the city of Brooksville in 2010.

That is already going on to some degree, he said. But he would like to see it expanded.

He said it makes fiscal sense for all departments to explore common costs of buying such things as fuel, office goods and technological purchases.

Druzbick said he has talked with interim School Superintendent Sonya Jackson about the idea and she is receptive.

"We're all in the same boat," Druzbick said. "Our budgets are all going to be less next year, so we all need to help each other and get through."

County Commissioner Rose Rocco said her top priority will be getting County Administrator David Hamilton to come up with a solid business management plan for 2010.

"He's the CEO and that's what we hired him for," Rocco said.

Rocco said she also wants to explore ways to speed up the permit process for businesses seeking to build in the county.

County Commissioner Dave Russell said the budget is the obvious priority for 2010.

Specifically, Russell said the board must work with the constitutional officers to address some of the anticipated revenue shortfalls.

Commissioner Jeff Stabins said "there is no doubt" in his mind that the county's top priority for 2010 is to continue to reduce government spending.

"I want to reduce spending enough this year so that in next year's budget, 2010-2011, we will not have to impose furloughs on our employees," Stabins said. "That's my goal."

The public is invited to the strategic planning workshop, which will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 8 at the Hernando County Emergency Operations Center, off the State Road 50 truck route by the sheriff's office.