Ben Hill Commissioner try to solve budget crisis - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Ben Hill Commissioner try to solve budget crisis

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BEN HILL COUNTY, GA (WALB) -

Ben Hill County Commissioners met this afternoon to try to solve a budget crisis.

After temporarily laying off all county workers for three weeks, commissioners discussed options to increase revenue like raising the millage rate by 1 mill, collecting back taxes, and getting constitutional officers on board with the layoffs.

But The Sheriff is refusing to lay off his deputies because he found another way to save money.

Ben Hill County commissioners sat down to a workshop Monday afternoon to discuss how to increase revenue and cut spending.

They have already begun temporarily laying off county employees for 15 days to help the county's revenue crunch.

"I don't consider it drastic but I do consider it very unusual, it is one of these tough things that has to be done in tough times," says Frank Feild, Ben Hill County Manager.

This could potentially save the county more than $250,000. Field says the layoffs are necessary to keep the county operating after 5 years of declining revenue, exploding expenses, and a $15 million decrease in the tax digest.

"We want to try to continue to provide the same quality services that we always have to our community but at the same time, we are basically running out of cash," says Feild.

By laying off employees instead of using furlough days, employees will qualify for unemployment benefits rather than losing all pay. Constitutional Officers were asked to participate in the layoff but Sheriff Bobby McLemore says he cannot afford to take deputies off the street.

"To ensure the safety and security of our community, we feel that we need to keep our deputies there," says John Bishop, Ben Hill Sheriff's Office Chief Administrative Officer.

Instead of going along with the temporary layoffs, Sheriff McLemore decided to close 6 positions that were vacant.

"We are trying to be proactive in helping the taxpayers of the county, by not filling those 6 slots, three jailers, two 911 operators, and one deputy," says Bishop.

In the workshop, commissioners also tried to plan ahead for the 2013 budget so they won't be in the same financial position they are in now.

The Department of Labor will be paying laid off employees a portion of their salary. But the commission will have to eventually pay the Department of Labor back.

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