Comments on: Deep Deficits Projected for Washtenaw County http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/ it's like being there Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:55:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jim Carty http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9253 Jim Carty Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:58:04 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9253 Thanks Vivienne and Mary, much appreciated! Thanks Vivienne and Mary, much appreciated!

]]> By: Stew Nelson http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9252 Stew Nelson Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:44:28 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9252 The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge that there is one! The County and the Board of Commissioners have at least tried to quantify the magnitude of the problem. Cash flow triage is the next step with the focus on "stopping the bleeding". Reducing headcount (Full-Time Equivalent's, FTE's as they call them) is a quick way to save cash. Maybe not the best way however? Contrast the County's frank discussions with what is going on in Ann Arbor. Most of our elected officials are still in "denial". (And I am not talking about the the river!) Stew The first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge that there is one! The County and the Board of Commissioners have at least tried to quantify the magnitude of the problem. Cash flow triage is the next step with the focus on “stopping the bleeding”. Reducing headcount (Full-Time Equivalent’s, FTE’s as they call them) is a quick way to save cash. Maybe not the best way however?

Contrast the County’s frank discussions with what is going on in Ann Arbor. Most of our elected officials are still in “denial”. (And I am not talking about the the river!)

Stew

]]> By: Mary Morgan http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9248 Mary Morgan Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:03:53 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9248 Jim, thanks for your questions – have you done some reporting in the past, by chance? The county employs 1,360 full-time workers. Based on Bob Guenzel's presentation and comments by commissioners, it seems highly unlikely that job cuts would be the only or even the main way of addressing the deficit. I believe that's why Kristin Judge objected to including them in the report, even as a way of characterizing the magnitude of the projected deficit. Under the best-case scenario revenue assumptions, the projected budget for 2010 is $101 million, and about $100 million in 2011. That's down from $106 million in 2008 and a projected $104 million this year. The worst-case projections show a 2010 budget of $96.8 million and $90.7 million in 2011. Jim, thanks for your questions – have you done some reporting in the past, by chance?

The county employs 1,360 full-time workers. Based on Bob Guenzel’s presentation and comments by commissioners, it seems highly unlikely that job cuts would be the only or even the main way of addressing the deficit. I believe that’s why Kristin Judge objected to including them in the report, even as a way of characterizing the magnitude of the projected deficit.

Under the best-case scenario revenue assumptions, the projected budget for 2010 is $101 million, and about $100 million in 2011. That’s down from $106 million in 2008 and a projected $104 million this year. The worst-case projections show a 2010 budget of $96.8 million and $90.7 million in 2011.

]]> By: Vivienne Armentrout http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9245 Vivienne Armentrout Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:51:08 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9245 According to material from the administrator's presentation, the 2008 total budget (both revenue and expenditures) was approximately $106.5 million. In 2011, the total expenditures are estimated at approximately $119 million, with a $28 million shortfall in revenues, or close to a quarter (23.5%) of the total. I don't know the answer to the question about employees. According to material from the administrator’s presentation, the 2008 total budget (both revenue and expenditures) was approximately $106.5 million. In 2011, the total expenditures are estimated at approximately $119 million, with a $28 million shortfall in revenues, or close to a quarter (23.5%) of the total.

I don’t know the answer to the question about employees.

]]> By: Jim Carty http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9223 Jim Carty Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:04:29 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9223 And, actually, while I'm thinking about i, what's the total size of the budget, which would put the potential shortfalls in context? And, actually, while I’m thinking about i, what’s the total size of the budget, which would put the potential shortfalls in context?

]]> By: Jim Carty http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/02/05/deep-deficits-projected-for-washtenaw-county/comment-page-1/#comment-9222 Jim Carty Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:03:01 +0000 http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=13245#comment-9222 Just curious, what's the total employment number for the county? That would be useful to put the potential of 300+ cuts in context. Thanks! Jim Just curious, what’s the total employment number for the county? That would be useful to put the potential of 300+ cuts in context. Thanks! Jim

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