In a move to help balance the 2010 budget, the county council voted Thursday night to cut salaries to county employees - with a few exceptions - by 7 percent.
The council noted that Sheriff Rocky Goshert is exempt because he has a contract with the county. In 2007, Goshert froze his salary for his term at $94,993 a year.The move also exempts the county's prosecutor and judges, whose salaries are set by state statute. Probation officers are also exempt from the pay cut.
The county employs about 350 people.
The council held a two-hour executive session before the public meeting to finalize details of the budget.
"This has been an extremely difficult budget to deal with," said Council President Harold Jones.
After Jones spoke, councilman Tom Anglin brought a resolution to the council.
"Well, this is something that isn't very popular," said Anglin. "It takes so much to operate. Nobody likes to take a pay cut. But I'm going to recommend not-for-profit organizations take a 10-percent decrease."
Along with the budget decreases for not-for-profits, a 7-percent decrease in pay for county employees also was approved.
Anglin said the decision was an unpopular one but noted that no one would lose their job.
"This is better than going to the department heads and saying we want you to cut one, two or three people," said councilman Larry Teghtmeyer.
Teghtmeyer also noted that the payroll cuts don't balance the budget, that it's "a necessary step forward."
"I don't like it but it's something we have to do," said Anglin.
A hard copy of the budget was unavailable as of this morning because the budget recommendations still needed to be factored in.
Teghtmeyer also painted a bleak picture for the 2011 budget saying, due to lack of revenue in terms of income and property taxes, more cuts may be needed.
Before approving the county's budget, the council also approved the Solid Waste District budget for 2010.
The board approved a request by attorney Steve Snyder to allow tax abatements for 2008 and 2009 for Louis-Dreyfus despite the fact they missed those deadlines.
"I can assure you this will never happen again," said Snyder, who attributed the missed deadlines to staff changes at Louis Dreyfus.
Snyder said the company's initial bond repayment schedule was factored with tax abatements when the company opened its Claypool plant.
A public notice on the waiver for non-compliance appeared in the Aug. 24 edition of the Times-Union.
The council approved the abatement request noting Louis Dreyfus's contribution to the community.
Snyder said the company has exceeded their previous estimates for items like employees.
The company currently employs 81 people as compared to a projection of 60 when they opened.
Also, Snyder said, Louis Dreyfus will expand their facilities including its own wastewater treatment plant.
Before the board voted on the budget, they approved a request by Sheriff Goshert to transfer $4,500 from the civil part-time fund to the sheriff part-time fund for extra work by an office employee dealing with warrants.
The council also approved a request by the assessor's office for $200,000 in a software change. The county commissioners previously approved the appropriation.
County Administrator Ron Robinson spoke on behalf of Jason McSherry, county clerk.
The clerk's office recently lost a full-time employee and the request was to make a part-time employee full time.
"From what I understand, the part-time employee was basically full time, and if they are moved to full time the part-time position will be eliminated," said Teghtmeyer before the council approved the move.
The board also approved a motion to encourage the county commissioners and county department heads to buy American products after a presentation from the Buy American Resolution Group.
