A $4.6 million budget cut for 2009 was approved by the Anoka County management committee Tuesday and now is expected to be voted upon by the board later this month.
The $4.6 million in cuts was compiled by Cevin Petersen, division manager of finance and central services. The County Board has until its next meeting Aug. 25 to contemplate its fate.
Petersen's proposal includes a $920,000 year-end reserve -- and the fate of that sum will probably be decided when the November financial forecast arrives, he said. The budget reserve will be used for a potential December unallotment, if the November forecast predicts a shortfall, he said.
Nearly half of $3.2 million in budget reductions for the year will come from Human Services, according to Petersen's detailed proposal.
County Administrator Terry Johnson reiterated that the county would do everything possible to avoid layoffs.
But the county, which has left positions vacant and has reduced spending since last fall, may "have to redefine how we do business," said Jerry Soma, manager of the county's Human Services Division.
For instance, the county eliminated a computer-training position when it discovered that it was cheaper for outside vendors to train staff, Soma said.
In computing Anoka County's final budget cuts, Petersen took into account Gov. Tim Pawlenty's unallotment of $2.1 million in December 2008 and $1.6 million last month with the intent to unallot $3.2 million during fiscal year 2010.
