Mecklenburg County officials said they are planning for up to $95 million in budget cuts, and potentially more than 500 layoffs of workers, for the budget year that begins in July. The cuts are driven overwhelmingly by declines in nearly every revenue source.
County Manager Harry Jones (pictured at right) won't present his recommended budget until May, but has given departments and other agencies targets on how much they could possibly lose. Click here to read the full list.
The potential cuts include:
County Manager Harry Jones (pictured at right) won't present his recommended budget until May, but has given departments and other agencies targets on how much they could possibly lose. Click here to read the full list.
The potential cuts include:
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools $20.7 million or 6.5 percent less than the current year
- Department of Social Services: $4.2 million, or 6.6 percent less
- Sheriff's Office: almost $9 million, or 11 percent less
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: $17 million, or 50 percent less
- Park and Recreation: $18.8 million, or 50 percent less
Jones and Budget Director Hyong Yi stressed Tuesday that the targeted cuts are not final, and will change as Jones and county commissioners craft the budget.
The $95 million figure is about $10 million more than the current estimated budget shortfall. Jones said the extra amount will give him more flexibility in deciding what cuts to enact and also acts as a buffer against any future losses in state money.
But he said next year's cuts will mean layoffs, service eliminations and the closure of some facilities. "There is no purpose in sugar-coating the situation," Jones said.
Commissioners will approve the 2010-11 budget this June.
In the meantime, the county will cut $20 million from the current year budget, including $6.3 million from CMS and $13.2 million from county departments. Central Piedmont Community College will lose about $500,000.
Want to keep up with the budget? Visit http://countybudget.charmeck.org/. APRIL BETHEA
The $95 million figure is about $10 million more than the current estimated budget shortfall. Jones said the extra amount will give him more flexibility in deciding what cuts to enact and also acts as a buffer against any future losses in state money.
But he said next year's cuts will mean layoffs, service eliminations and the closure of some facilities. "There is no purpose in sugar-coating the situation," Jones said.
Commissioners will approve the 2010-11 budget this June.
In the meantime, the county will cut $20 million from the current year budget, including $6.3 million from CMS and $13.2 million from county departments. Central Piedmont Community College will lose about $500,000.
Want to keep up with the budget? Visit http://countybudget.charmeck.org/. APRIL BETHEA
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10 comments:
And this slick bum accepted a BONUS knowing full well this was coming. This man is scum. Fire him now.
If you are going to say stuff like that you should at least be brave enough to put a name to your comment.
The economy is not the blame for the County's budget issues. Poor budget policy and management is the issue. With a $70million shortfall last year how was it reasonable to forecast increased property tax revenue for FY10. The new fiscal year began and all budget issues were forgotten... spending returned to silly. A system that consistently budgets based on budget, never reconciling the actual is doomed to have HUGE shortfalls eventually.
Commissioners should not be comforted that other Counties are sufferring the same issues with larger price tags...as your mother used to say, "If your friends jump off a bridge are you going to jump off too?" Mecklenburg County sufferes from the same amnesia as Wall Street...and they expect us to do the same as we have in the past....bend over & take it.
Bobbi said...
If you are going to say stuff like that you should at least be brave enough to put a name to your comment.
March 17, 2010 2:01 PM
OK. Its Tara. Satisfied?
The 411:
Smuggy and the Mayor are going to bring the coin from DC.....right? right? There is a mysterious silence about these trips.Smuggy, we need the bills, man! Isn't that why 99.9% of the people in Grier Heights voted for Obama and Bev? Bring it, baby. You've got the clout.
WE NEED THE TROLLEY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BRING US OUT OF THE SLUMP THOUSANDS ARE WAITING ON THE WEST SIDE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE EAST SIDE TO SHOP THESE CONSUMERS WILL BUY MORE AT THE NEW SHOPS AT EASTLAND AND THEN RAISE PROPERTY TAXES WE JUST NEED TO FIRE THE TEACHERS AND CLOSE THE LIBRARIES AND PUT THE MONEY INTO THE TROLLEY CAN'T YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT?
Since i have gotten a raise and i have a cush job with the county and i spend my time getting jobs for friends at DSS who can't account for money raised by touching the heartstrings of good people wanting to help the less fortunate i can't be bothered to actually step outside to walmart and see that people don't have money to spend even in charlotte and that the sales tax revenue might be lower and in fact i was shocked (SHOCKED!) and dumbfounded when i found out that the sales tax numbers would be down some 40% who could have guessed that our economy has been this sluggish because i know i'm still spending money like before because, of course, i just got a raise and no one can really fire me or anything so we need libraries to go and of course those in myers park and carmel like the observer says these are the affluent ones and not just the ones in the hood i still believe in the trolley though and i'm still looking for some extra spots in dss for my friends.
What is even sadder. Is that these people make more than the average Joe. They should bring down their pay rate down to what the teacher's make. This is how you save the money without cutting so many jobs in the long run. Let's see it need's to start at the local level and then go up to the highest office. No lunches, dinners to be brought in before the meetings that we the People pay for! SMH!
Cut more. Reduce our taxes. The government does not have a right to my labor.
He told Charlotte's Morning News he deserved it. It's not all his fault though, the Commissioners and the School Board have been spending money like sailors on shore leave.
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