Laserfiche WebLink
Attorney Collins requested the Board revise his budget to reflect the 12.3% decrease, <br />rather than the 14.0%. <br />Management and Budget Director Jason Brown recalled that the action taken by the <br />Board at the Budget Workshop on July 23, 2009, was to approve the County Attorney's <br />Department budget cuts by inducing 26 days of furlough per year. <br />Attorney Collins disagreed to the action taken at the Budget Workshop, and clarified that <br />the reduction in staff only works for the 12.3% reduction; and pointed out that it was not the first <br />year his office had taken reductions. He felt a 14% reduction would be difficult to make. <br />Commissioner Solari wondered if the Board should revisit decreasing the number of <br />attorneys in the office to balance the budget, and instead of the extensive furloughs, return the <br />office to the same number of positions as in 2007. <br />Vice Chairman Flescher voiced concern over the furlough process, the cost of outside <br />legal representation, and the value to the taxpayer. He believed furloughs were disruptive, and <br />that there was no justification for four attorneys or seven people in the Legal office when other <br />departments were required to downsize. <br />Director Brown reported that the cost for two outside counsel firms for right-of-way <br />acquisitions in fiscal year 2006/2007 was about $22,000, and that to date it is about $73,000. <br />MOTION WAS MADE BY Vice Chairman Flescher, <br />SECONDED by Commissioner Solari, to move forward <br />with a reduction in the County Attorney's office. <br />Under discussion, Commissioner Wheeler did not believe furloughs were as disruptive as <br />losing staff. He wanted additional information regarding the cost difference in reduction versus <br />September 9, 2009 <br />Preliminary Budget Hearing <br />