Comments on: Nonprofits to County: “Don’t Cut Funding!”

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:16:45 +0000

There is no doubt that we have a very well developed and sophisticated non-profit “industry” in our county. I suppose that it’s all part of being in an area with a lot of enlightened and generally affluent residents. In the past, the County government has funded its largess out of the increasing tax base. Now that times are tough, it will be interesting to see if the “enlightened” will be willing to pay the price.

I feel sorry for the 200 to 300 County workers who will lose their jobs.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:28:28 +0000

The other issue to, which I find interesting is list of non-profits lobbying the County for maintenence of funding.

It plays to my arguement that the County has been all things to everyone and hasn’t bothered to set any real priorities or outcomes. Is it head start? is it homelessness? is it hunger? is it youth? is it seniors? is it education?

I think that problem is Mr. Guenzel et al have created a large and politically connected non-profit bureaucracy that has very little interest in any type of change…

The human services millage, if they approve the ballot measure, would be crushed. I suspect that the “leaders” speak favorably of the millage to pander to a political community that they fear. I find the dynamic very odd and troubling.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:17:18 +0000

Bob…

I think its pretty accurate. If you are cutting 1/4 to 1/3 of the budget (over time), and staffing represents about 3/4 of overall spending, 20 percent reduction is in the ballpark. I think they have made do with some preliminary jobs cuts and the hiring freeze, but the county is still operating in a structural deficit, revenue growth is not keeping up with expenses.

It may be a little off point, but the cost of health care hasn’t been mentioned. I’m a bit surprised. The County is self insured and the cost of providing health care to 1,000 or so employees has got to be expensive and growing in cost. I wonder if part of the disucssion with the unions will center around the benefit packages. The County has been typically very generous, but I know they have been cutting back in recent years.

Its another arguement for health care reform, though I may be getting ahead of myself.

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:00:50 +0000

Richard, I was thinking the same thing about the lack of comments.

I’ve not seen any specifics regarding potential staffing reductions @ the County in some time. I know that Bob Gunzel submitted a budget to the Commissioners last week but I believe that I noted that the issue of headcount reductions was still up in the air pending the negotiations of concession from the unions. It seems to me that arithmetically, if there are no concessions (or minimal ones) the headcount reductions would have to be on the order of 20 to 25%, does this give with your assessment?

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:52:02 +0000

I’m surprised there aren’t more comments regarding this story.

I think it is very naive for Commissioner Smith to suggest that the County has come through this with relatively “minor” job cuts (and that he wouldn’t give up his County paid for cell phone, but that’s another story).

The County is going to have to cut jobs, its inevitable with the level of the budget.

While I have some questions regarding the funding to non-profits and the viability of a human services millage, relatively speaking, its a small portion of the overall budget. I think they also need to make a far better case for a millage. I think it is likely to fail.

I would also applaud Commissioner Judge for looking into the managment to staff ratios…I know from my own experience in the County, I had three managers supervising a staff of 6 people.